Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
April 17, 2017
Present: Pastor Chad Brekke, Allan Grant, Lynn Anderson, Melissa Johnson
Absent: Julia Sevald
Call to Order: President Allan Grant called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
Devotions: Allan led us in prayer.
Adoption of the Agenda: A motion was made by Lynn Anderson and seconded by Melissa Johnson to approve the agenda. Motion approved.
Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Melissa Johnson and seconded by Lynn Anderson to approve the minutes from the February 21, 2017 Executive Committee meetings. Motion approved.
Reports of Officers:
President’s Report:
Allan will be going to a meeting for the Association of Congregation at Gustavus Aldolfus and attending a Faith Conference in the morning. He will report back next month.
Treasurer’s Report:
Notable March activity:
- For the month of March, receipts were lower than expenses.
- The general/building fund activity for the month was a loss of $4,225. This is favorable to prior year by $5,966 but unfavorable to budget by $1.975.
- Total March offerings were lower than budget and prior year by $4,720 and $5,324, respectively. Other receipts for March were lower than budget and prior year due to timing of building use income.
- Overall, expenses are lower than budget and prior year by $5,437 and $15,555, respectively. The favorability to prior year is related to the timing of benevolence payments as well as fewer repairs expense than 2016. Additionally, the loan we had entered into for the LED lights has been paid off as of December 31, 2016 so we no longer have that monthly expense.
- For March year to date, receipts are lower than expenses. The general building fund activity is a loss of $6,367 which is slightly favorable to budget, but unfavorable to prior year by $2,323.
- The general fund cash balance available for use is $44,744 at the end of March.
- The only designated fund with significant activity in March was the Miscellaneous Designated fund.
- As we move in to 2017 we will continue to track our offerings and contributions vs. budget and keep the congregation updated if we start falling behind.
Vice President’s Report:
Leave a Legacy
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- $ 1,800 requested for covering leaders expenses for a youth retreat this summer to Compass Point, a wilderness faith experience through Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in Colorado. The youth is fundraising for this event but by covering the leaders expenses, this lowers the amount needed to be raised by the youth.
- $300 requested by the garden club to beautify the churchyard by planting flowers and by controlling weeds.
- $841.42 requested to cover (mostly) labor for a worship center console being installed. Pop received a large anonymous donation to purchase the console but we need a little more to complete the entire cost.
Secretary’s Report: None
Senior Pastor’s Report:
As we move into the relatively brief Easter season on our way to Pentecost, we pause to reflect on an amazing Lent and Holy Week at Prince of Peace. There is a sense that the liturgical calendar keeps pushing us forward toward the next season so it is important for us to celebrate and give thanks for all that God is up to in our midst.
- Every Wednesday morning during Lent, we held a lovely worship in the CLC followed by a luncheon provided by volunteers. These services had an intimate fell and provide an important social outreach for a number of senior members and friends of PoP not included to come out for evening worship services.
- Once again there was an electric energy on Wednesday evenings during Lent. Mentors could be found in conversation with their confirmation student in every corner of our campus prior to flowing into the Worship Center for an engaging and uniquely multi-generational worship experience. Several members of the congregation shared their wilderness experiences during these services and all of our ministry staff participated in preaching.
- All of the planning done by our gifted staff for Holy Week at Prince of Peace was experienced by hundreds of people as a coherent, profound, thematic entry into the passion story, leading to a celebration of the resurrection on Easter. Comments such as, “I will never for get this as long as I live” have been shared countless time sand spread across social media by folks attending Prince of Peace during this season. From Palm Sunday to a funeral on Monday, through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the Good News rang out loud and clear from our church.
None of these experiences happen by accident. We continue to leverage and improve the tools we have that support our efforts to provide meaningful and engaging worship and outreach ministers. What a blessing our new LED accent lighting system was during our Holy Week services. We are already noticing improvements as our new soundboard and audio systems come online. We look forward in the very new future to upgrades to our video system in the Worship Center.
But our greatest strength continues to be a faithful, creative and uniquely gifted staff, supported by so many faithful volunteers and lay leaders. One family told me on Good Friday that they had driven from South Dakota to be with us for worship that night and they we so grateful that they had done so. They said they listen to our podcast all the time.
Prince of Peace is Growing deep and reaching out, and by the grace of God, we’re having a blast doing it!
- We have a lot to be optimistic about at Prince of Peace. So many things are going on that seem to be “invisible” to the congregations, such as the refugee program.
Unfinished Business:
None
New Business:
- We are waiting to replace the 3rd screen until everything is set with the main projectors and can be fixed at once (including getting lights replaced) due to the need to rent equipment.
Action Items:
- We discussed that it may be best to report quarterly to the congregation on the principal reduction on our mortgage.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Melissa Johnson and seconded by Lynn Anderson. Motion approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Melisa Johnson
Council Secretary