Present: Pastor Natalia Terfa, Melissa Johnson, Mike Isenberg, Richard Habstritt, Rachel Henderson, Lori Clausen, Frank Clinton, Kirk Sidlo, Pastor Jenny Sung
Absent: Frank Clinton, Jim Fodstad, Sarah Hetz
Call to Order: Melissa called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM
Opening Devotion: Lori led us in prayer
Adoption of the Agenda: Mike made a motion to adopt the agenda. Lori seconded the motion. Motion carries.
Approval of Previous Minutes: Mike made a motion to approve minutes from the June 21, 2022 council meeting. Kirk seconded the motion. Motion carries.
EXECUTIVE TEAM REPORTS:
President’s Report
None
VP Report
None
Treasurer’s Report
OFFERINGS/RECEIPTS
2022 2021
APRIL $57,656.80 $54,417.59
MAY $55,067.96 $52,656.23
JUNE $78,969.14 $73,645.79
TOTAL $344,660.34 $366,292.78
Monthly Average $57,443.39 $61,048.80
EXPENSES
2022 2021
APRIL $76,346.93 $67,653.65
MAY $71,074.36 $69,702.67
JUNE $73,645.79 $68,781.52
TOTAL $435,584.35 $419,157.70
Monthly Avg $72,597.39 $69,859.62
GAIN/LOSSES
2022 2021
APRIL ($18,690.13) ($13,236.06)
MAY 24,993.20 ($17,046.44)
JUNE 5,323.35 $19,524.08
TOTAL ($49,924.01) ($52,864.92)
Leave a Legacy Fund update
As of May 2022; $41,000 Of Endowment Funds have been used for general expenses. The 2022 Budget included the planned use of $32,000 of Endowment funds to cover general expenses.
As of June 30, 2022 endowment fund balance is $41,031.78. These funds can be used to cover general expenses as approved by the council in the May 17, 2022 meeting.
2022 Appeal of Congregation brought in $25,392.75 as of June.
Cash Balances as of 06/30/2022 $ 13,391.68
Staffing changes: salary and hourly reductions of pastors, as well as salary reductions of staff, have been approved, date pending when these changes will take place
Secretary’s Report
I am working on connecting with teams to make sure reports are getting to the council in an efficient way. This is a learning process as we adapt and expand council leadership with at-large positions to represent a wider perspective of life and ministry at POP.
PASTORAL REPORTS:
Pastor Chad’s Report
On Sabbatical
Pastor Natalia’s Report
We’re already fully into the middle of July already! I got an email last week from Layla’s school that said “summer is halfway over!” and I was ready to throw down. NO. NOT YET PLEASE. Layla has been asking about school supply shopping daily for the past two weeks, so I know it’s coming, I’m just not ready for it.
Pr Jenny continues to gather feedback and make calls for the revitalization of our care team. I look forward to the information she has to share and upcoming trainings as well. A reminder that the care team will be essential in the church taking ownership of what it means to care for each other and minister to each other, no matter who the pastors are. Pr Jenny will begin this work this week, by calling council leadership and ministry team leads first, and then either via a digital form or a phone call, she will hopefully connect with all or a majority of our members. Just FYI – those who have recently transferred membership, or indicated they are no longer attending Prince of Peace will not be included in these phone calls. Let me or Pr Jenny know if you have any questions about any of this.
We had our first listening session on Sunday, and I will report on how it went on during our council meeting. Again, though subject to change, the next dates for these sessions are Wednesday, Aug 3 – 6 pm; Sunday, August 14 – 11 am; Tuesday, Aug 30 – 6 pm; and maybe a Theology on Tap, July 28. These sessions will be focused on positive ways we can be Prince of Peace together as we move into this new phase in the life of our congregation. The rest of the staff will be present whenever they are able, and the council is more than welcome to come at any point as well.
Pastor Jenny Report
70% through congregational calls. Good information coming in, general theme is that are unaware of many changes because they haven’t been in attendance but have intentions of coming back to church.
Ministry Team Reports:
Community Life
Lori will be moving up north soon and therefore will not be available to finish the final few months of her term on council.
Congregational Care
None
Outreach
Current/Upcoming/Potential Future Projects
Avenues For Youth
- Birthday Buddy Program – no July birthdays
CEAP
- Tote Bag Drive – June o Getting good response. Jeanne will ask pastors to continue to announce continue at church and she will also promote in eNews
- June and July food donations – o Jim Fodstad – June
- Dave Herzuck – July
- Jeanne to send a reminder email to volunteers and confirm everyone is still OK with their assigned month
- Meals on Wheels o Frank Clinton is interested in being added to the driver list, Jeanne to contact him
- We are covered for subs needed for upcoming shifts
- Farm Fresh Volunteer Event – July 27
- 10 volunteers are needed to pack produce and carry it to vehicles.
- Arrive around 12:30 – 12:45 for the 1-3 shift
- Promotion and volunteer recruitment – Jeanne to ask pastors to announce and will add to July eNews
- Birthday Bags o Amy’s $250 Thrivent grant application accepted.
- Schedule shop, assembly, and delivery in August
- Jodi to follow up with Amy on setting a date for the assembly
- • Supplies for Success – Back to School Supply Collection o The attendees all agreed POP should participate in this event again this year. Jeanne to follow up with Mark at CEAP for dates and details
Completed Projects
- Avenues for Youth Graduation Party – Wednesday, June 8 o Amy provided cake, ice cream, graduation cards and Target gift cards for 3 students. Brent and youth provided balloons and decorations.
- Park Brook 5th Grade Graduation Breakfast and Commemoration – Wednesday, June 8th o Breakfast – 6 volunteers served graduates and teachers a special breakfast made by the Park Brook staff.
- Commemoration – 5 volunteers served cake, lemonade and water to the graduates and their families after the commemoration.
Park Brook Track and Field Day – Monday, June 6th
Property Team
Long Range Proposal
Updated 7-2022
This year (Next 12 months)
Short-term projects (5 Years)
Long-term projects (Ten years)
_____________________________
This year
Courtyard window panels (4) replacement $400 prox.
Water heater replacement (2) $400 $500 heater cost prox.
Door (3) not closing – replace electric closer $3,812-year-old bid
Tree in courtyard removal dead – (causing roof drain problems)
Two toilets not flushing in women’s bathroom – rebuild valves $800 prox.
Fire alarm panel not passing all tests (Operational but entire system will need to be replaced if it fails) $30,000
Ash trees in the parking lot dying. Exploring treatment options July 25th
HVAC unit for the education wing has bad bearings in the motor and will need replacing. May not be available or reparable due to age. Still operating for now.
5 Year
HVAC – CLC $25,000 prox.
Dishwasher Model AM-14 Out of production Prox. $15,000 prox.
Parking lot repairs $20,000-bid 2 years old
10 Year
Carpet replacement
Sunday Morning Experience
None
Staff Reports
Children and Family Ministry
Day Camp, Day Camp, Day Camp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wapo is the week of July 31-August 5.
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
– Summer continues to be spent trying to listen to individuals/groups/families about how they’re doing as we emerge from *gestures at everything * & build plans for next year.
– We have a young adult & high school group preparing for Wilderness Canoe Base trips in August. (Aug 1-5 young adults, Aug 8-13 high school).
– July Theology on Tap will center around listening to where people are at & wonder what being church looks like as we move forward. July 28 7:30p at Luce Line Brewing.
– Working on getting people aware of & signed up for CEAPs Farm Fresh events.
Media & Tech
None
Unfinished Business
NOTES from May 2022 council chat session
Things Prince of Peace is doing really well!
(How can we emphasize our strengths? Better show potential new members what we’re all about? Get people more involved?)
We have great preaching (we hear this from both members in church on Sunday and several people from the online community).
Our music team is great at working together/blending services. This is a great asset to POP especially as we moved to one service (somewhat emergently) but we were able to sustain, adapt and continue to include all of the musical talents in that one service.
Kids’ programs have been adaptable and flexible week to week according to attendance and needs.
GroupLife. We have stories and conversations about the amazing connections that have been formed, but is it hard or intimidating to start a group or join a new group? Maybe we need to push this or advertise in the fall; new school year-new group life year. Also, could we record or share stories of some of the great connections to show people the value?
Ideas for easy but visible improvements:
Feedback and suggestions from members and for welcoming new visitors
- Helping visitors get basic info
- Visitor info area? Or person?
- Cards in the pews with communion and offering info
- ALL are welcome at the table, What is intinction??!!!
- How to contribute-can we create a QR code that connects to the SimplyGiving website?
- Visitor packet?
- Alternatives for offering other than simply giving? Perhaps just an easy explanation of SimplyGiving o Some sort of kiosk, or mobile option?
- Taking out a row or two of pews to give a bit more room in the sanctuary, make it not seem so empty?
- Side question: would Brenda or others using wheelchairs want us to move a pew so there’s more wheelchair space or in a different location? ▪ Our church is actually not very ADA accessible (bathrooms, entering CLC if doors aren’t propped open, etc) OF course this costs $$, but Rachel knows of some grant options if we want to explore this
- Rally Sunday/Return to Church, adult ministry fair- trying to give people a lot of chances to get involved
- In-person council meetings?
- Shaking up Grouplife groups?
- More church meals, events like the chili cook-off?
- Theology on tap for everyone, not just young adults? Better advertising
- Restarting or bolstering men’s group (weekly breakfast?)
New Business
Re-frame at-large positions, structure of council
COVID: if we reach HIGH community spread level in Hennepin county we will go back to masking and safety precautions according to CDC. The CDC/State of MN publishes definitive case counts and statistics, so if/when we reach those specific numbers-it indicate a need for change of safety precautions at POP.
Next Meeting
Announcements and Action Items:
Adjournment: Mike made a motion to adjourn. Kirk seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 8:32Pm