Present: Pastor Natalia Terfa, Melissa Johnson, Mike Isenberg, Richard Habstritt, Rachel Henderson, Sarah Hetz
Absent: Pastor Chad Brekke, Frank Clinton, Jim Fodstad, Kirk Sidlo
Call to Order: Melissa called the meeting to order at 6:55pm
Opening Devotion: Prayer was said at dinner prior to meeting.
Adoption of the Agenda: Mike made a motion to adopt the agenda. Richard seconded the motion. Motion carries.
Approval of Previous Minutes: Mike made a motion to approve minutes from the November 14, 2022 council meeting. Sarah seconded the motion. Motion carries.
EXECUTIVE TEAM REPORTS:
President’s Report
NONE
VP Report
NONE
Treasurer’s Report
OFFERINGS/RECEIPTS
2022 2021
JANUARY $50,753.77 $51,484.15
FEBRUARY $46,855.26 $48,963.77
MARCH $55,357.41 $70,465.44
APRIL $57,656.80 $54,417.59
MAY $55,067.96 $52,656.23
JUNE $78,969.14 $88,305.60
JULY $60,379.29 $65,241.57
AUGUST $41,584.48 $77,752.52
SEPTEMBER $53,227.72 $55,115.12
OCTOBER $61,709.83 $69,948.33
NOVEMBER $63,070.85 $ 82,625.89
TOTAL $624,632.51 $716,976.21
Monthly Average $56,784.77 $65,179.66
EXPENSES ( EXCLUDING ENDOWMENT REDUCTION
2022 2021
JANUARY $69,711.20 $67,823.25
FEBRUARY $72,658.64 $69,248.17
MARCH $72,147.03 $75,948.44
APRIL $76,346.93 $67,653.65
MAY $71,074.36 $69,702.67
JUNE $73,645.79 $68,781.52
JULY $67,527.80 $67,511.19
August $72,006.52 $68,754.84
SEPTEMBER $76,439.95 $70,440.60
OCTOBER $59,587.21 $49,449.55
NOVEMBER $59,647.57 $50,002.07
TOTAL $770,793.00 $725,315.95
GAIN/LOSSES ( INCLUDING ENDOWMENT PYMT)
2022 2021
JANUARY ($18,957.43) ($16,339.10)
FEBRUARY ($25,803.38) ($20,284.40)
MARCH. ($16,789.62) ($5,483.00)
APRIL ($18,690.13) ($13,236.06)
MAY 24,993.20 ($17,046.44)
JUNE 5,323.35 $19,524.08
JULY 5,985.71 ($2,269.62)
AUGUST ($17,260.04) $8,997.68
SEPTEMBER ($10,371.45) ($15,325.48)
OCTOBER $2,262.02 $20,498.78
NOVEMBER $3,603.28 $32,623.82
TOTAL ($65,704.49) ($8,339.74)
Endowment Fund
Through November, 2022 $80,456.00 of Endowment Funds was used to reduce expenses. The 2022 Budget included $32,000 of Endowment fund monies for reduction of expenses.
Balance Sheet as of November 30, 2022 show asset balance in both Endowment fund checking amounts to $51,407.53. This means that we used no Endowment funds during the month of November 2022
Offering/Receipts decrease in 2022 over 2021 by ($92,343.70)
Expenses decrease in 2022 by $34,978.95 compared to 2021 with the $80,456.00 from the Endowment Fund reduction in expenses. We now have two months in personnel expenses reductions.
Other Receipts in 2022 was $84,039.12 compare to 2021 which was $83,482.43 This is increase of $566.69.
2022 Appeal of Congregation amounted to $33,292.75
Give To Max Drive 2022 through November was $18,828.71 compared to 2021 $19,624.00
Cash Balances as of 11/30/2022 $ 16,464.15
Designated Funds
11/30/2022 $110,708.73
12/31/2021 $122,799.71
Difference ( $12,090.98)
We (Paul and Richard) are working on the 2023 budget, calculating an entire year of our staffing changes, we are expecting to be able to present a budget of approximately $10,000 surplus, the designated funds will remain the same as budgeted in 2022. Executive team will meet after Paul has the budget prepared to go over it prior to the congregational budget meeting, scheduled for January 15, 2023.
We have submitted for the Payroll tax refund grant, Paul did all the work for us, and it has been submitted. We will not know the total amount until it has been processed and approved. We are expecting to hear back in early 2023. If we are awarded a refund, first thing we will do with those funds would be to replace the endowment funds that we have borrowed for operating expenses over the past couple of years.
One additional update moving into 2023, we will merge the two endowment funds into one through Premiere banking. This will allow for easier access and fund management.
Secretary’s Report
NONE
PASTORAL REPORTS:
Pastor Chad’s Report
This past year at Prince of Peace was full of profoundly important worship and ministry along with significant change. As usual, the outreach of our congregation touched countless lives through our local partnerships with places like Avenues For Youth Home and CEAP. Our outreach also extended out into the world with mission trips to Tanzania and Jamaica. From summer day camp to wilderness canoe trips, Prince of Peace continues to engage people of all ages.
My sabbatical this summer was a time of study, renewal and adventure. I was able to spend an extended time in Tanzania that followed a wonderful group Vision Trip visit to that amazing country. The Prince of Peace group made it possible for a poor village family to receive a new safe and dry home on the rainy lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. These are the kinds of life changing blessings these trips always leave behind. The blessings we bring home with us are no less profound.
A major change for our congregation this year has been a reduction in ministry and program staff in order to fit our staffing configuration into existing budget realities. These changes have not been easy but our faithful and gifted staff have worked to maintain the vital ministry and outreach they lead with grace and effectiveness.
I want to say a special word of thanks to Brent Haglund for his decade of faithful youth and family ministry here at Prince of Peace. As Brent moves on to serve the church in a new location, he leaves behind a living legacy of effective ministry and so many memories shared among those blessed by his enthusiasm for grace filled community and inclusion.
I am also excited to announce that our own Katie Rykal has accepted the call to serve as our new, full-time Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries! If I were able to do a nation-wide search to fill this new position, I would be looking for someone like Katie – with her faith, gifts, experience and all-around positive energy. I would probably have to interview a hundred candidates before I found anyone even close! Thanks be to God, we don’t have to look for someone like Katie, we have the real thing!
It is no secret that powerful cultural shifts are taking place that are impacting the ways people engage their faith through the local church. These are challenging times calling for fresh perspectives and an openness to the Spirit. How will God lead us to gather around the Good News of the Gospel in the coming year? How will God send us out with that Good News?
I am so thankful to be part of this faith community that continues to Grow Deep and Reach Out with open hands and open hearts. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2023! Your partner in this ministry, Pastor Chad
Pastor Natalia’s Report
We’re in the hustle and bustle of December and Advent. I hope you are all taking time to breathe and rest during a month that asks us to do the opposite.
For your information as leadership, the current pastoral schedule looks like:
Week of December 5-11 – Natalia off
Week of December 12-18 – Chad off
Week of December 19-25 – both on
* “off” weeks mean we are not working, including Sunday.
Also, this December and January find Pr Chad and I both leaving the country but at different times. Please note these trips for your own calendars, and we’ll make sure to take note of these in Sunday bulletins as well.
Pr Chad is in Tanzania: December 27 to January 10
I will be in the Holy Land from January 12 to January 20.
I will be solo on January 1 and 8 while Pr Chad is gone.
He will be solo January 15 while I am gone.
We will both be back on January 22.
Nominating Committee is mostly done with our slate of candidates for the 2023 session. There is a report included in tonight’s reports, but we are waiting on a few more final notes from our team. This team has worked hard and been so faithful and I am so thankful for them.
Natalia will be planning a sabbatical this summer. Her sabbatical will start after the trip to the Holy Land and she will plan to be back by Rally Day. We will look into funds previously requested ($5000) from Leave a Legacy for pulpit supply during her absence; these funds were previously requested for Chad’s sabbatical and then we did not need them because other sources of funding were secured. Chad will have input on who we will get and the schedule for additional help during this time, keeping in mind that Chad will still be on the ¾ employment schedule.
Ministry Team Reports:
Community Life
None
Congregational Care
We are making progress and ready to start moving forward with teams working in different areas of care ministry. We have established teams for these areas of care:
cards/letters, phone calls and visiting. The care team is made up of dedicated volunteers eager to get started. Team leaders are ready, and we are hoping for a strong start in January after working out a few more logistical details. You may notice we will be getting more resources back in the pews-including prayer request cards and an outline of POP programs for visitors and members to read about all the opportunities available at POP. (Submitted by RH)
Outreach
None
Property Team
We are so grateful for the strong team that came to set up the tree grove and get POP ready for Christmas. This includes the men’s work group as well as Karina, Richard Habstritt and several AXIS groups.
Several things have been corrected/repaired in the last couple months. Hopefully you will notice the temperature in the sanctuary is better regulated as we discovered an outage in the thermostat and several vents that were closed. The fire inspector came through recently-with a couple of notes, most have been or will be easily corrected in the coming weeks.
There continues to be a list of things in the long term that will need attention in the building, as we enter the new year, we will asses what needs immediate repair and continue to keep the building running to best serve POP and the community. (Submitted by RH)
Sunday Morning Experience
None
Staff Reports
Children and Family Ministry
This past Sunday we had our Christmas program. It was nice to have it back in December for the first time since 2019!
The rest of December is pretty low-key in Children’s Ministry with a movie being shown during the Cantata and then two Sundays of no in-person Sunday School because of the Holidays. We will resume with in-person on January 8th.
During the Christmas Services and worship on January 1st there will be activities for the young people to do in worship (bulletins, crafts, etc.) and glow sticks will be available for families who don’t feel comfortable giving their child a candle.
With the change in my job description, I will be spending a bit of time during the rest of December connecting with Youth families and current guides/leaders to gauge where we are at and where we would like to go in Youth Ministry. This is a change that I am very excited for as the families in Youth Ministry right now have always been heavily invested here at Prince of Peace. I will be looking for ways to continue to get them connected with each other and the entire Congregation.
Also, with this change I am assuming that there will be some conversation about what can be set aside temporarily as we figure out a balance within this new role.
I continue to be blessed to be a part of this congregation. My family is invested here, I am invested here, and I truly feel at home. While the last three months were more of a struggle than I was initially anticipating, I knew that I had a support system here that was top notch.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Axis has been so fun and meaningful this season. Our new guides Morgan Holle, Rebecca Shopek & Skye Mikulak are so joyful & really hit it off with their groups. Not to mention our veteran Rachel continuing to lead her group whose experience has largely taken place during COVID restriction. We had a solid donation drive for Avenues For Youth’s Young Families Program and then rolled right into their holiday wish list drive. (as well as CEAP’s)
Revolution is very similar! A young and exciting group is building a foundation with leadership from Hunter Uhr & Spencer Amstrup (yup the Amstrup legacy lives on!). Senior Grace LaTourelle also brings her gifts (and friends) to this community in truly meaningful ways. Summer plans for high school currently involve a return to Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp for a Compass Points backpacking adventure. Departing POP July 8 & returning July 16. In addition to Ox Lake (potentially Wilderness Canoe Base too?).
We did send out a handful of college/post high school care packages this year. We’ve shifted our approach to families/individuals self selecting if they’d like one as we haven’t had the funds to just throw them all out there.
Young adults are a little up in the air right now. Theology on Taps are still scheduled (Dec. 15 at Finnegan’s Brewing Co.) but it’s a busy time it seems for many people (I mean I can relate too).
Personally – The word is out, my long run with Prince of Peace is coming to a finish effective Dec. 31. I will return for Affirmation of Baptism Jan. 8 though. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your leadership and faithfulness. I am so grateful to have been able to be here for so long. Thank you for your trust and belief in me, for allowing the freedom to experiment and grow and accommodate my family. I believe in Prince of Peace, no matter what.
Media & Tech
NONE
Unfinished Business
None
New Business
Natalia sabbatical-Summer. A motion was made to approve the sabbatical-which will be presented to the congregation at the annual meeting. Rachel made the motion. Mike seconded the motion. Motion carries.
Nominating team presents the following ballot:
Executive Team
President: Mike Isenberg
Vice President: Nate Boucher
Secretary: Patti VanLiew
Treasurer: Richard Habstritt
Council
At Large Year 1: Ann Maczuga At Large Year 1: TBD (in process) At Large Year 2: Kirk Sidlo
At Large Year 2: Frank Clinton
Property Committee Representative: Rachel Henderson
Nominating Team:
Jo Fachman
Joel Odens
Melissa Johnson
Two more TBD (in process)
Minneapolis Area Synod delegates: will be chosen based on availability after the schedule is released.
Melissa made a motion to accept the ballot. Any additional positions that are not filled at the annual meeting will come to council for approval during regular meeting sessions. Mike seconded the motion to accept the ballot. Motion carries.
Next Meeting: February 21, 2023
Congregational Budget Meeting: January 15, 2023
Annual Congregational Meeting: January 22, 2023
Announcements and Action Items: NONE
Adjournment: Mike made a motion to adjourn. Sara seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at TIME adjourn 8:19pm