Prince of Peace

July Council Minutes 2013

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Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

Council Meeting

July 16, 2013 (Approved)

 Present:   Bill Fredrick, Pastor Chad Brekke, AIM Natalia Terfa, Julia Sevald, Georgia Larson, Sue Johnson, Bev Alsleben, Dan Cassada, Erik Hasse, Jennifer Follestad, Andrew Follestad and Melissa Johnson  

Absent:  Morgan Holle

Call to Order:  President Bill Fredrick called the meeting to order.

Devotions:  Bill Fredrick led us in Devotions

Adoption of Agenda: 

Addition to the agenda: Georgia Larson asked to have a few minutes to speak during the ministry reports.

A motion was made by Sue Johnson and seconded by Dan Cassada to adopt the Council agenda with this addition.  Motion approved.

Approval of Previous Minutes:  A motion was made by Bev Alsleben and seconded by Jennifer Follestad to approve the minutes from the May 21, 2013 Council meeting as written.  Motion approved.

Reports of Officers:

Treasurer’s Report: Notable June activity:

  • Total June offerings & receipts were unfavorable to budget by $2,698 and $1,356 unfavorable to prior year.  Disbursements are favorable to budget by $2,594 and to prior year by $910 for the month. 
  • The general fund activity for the month was a loss of $11,319.  This is slightly unfavorable to budget for the month and to prior year.
  • Year to date, we are still overall unfavorable to budget by $43,483 and to prior year by $29,681.  The Exec team continues to brainstorm on ways to turn this around.
  • The cash balance has dropped to ($7,967), which means we are borrowing against our designated funds for normal monthly activity. 
  • There were no designated funds with significant activity this month.

We discussed what the Council can do to assist the Executive Team in brainstorming ways to turn things around.  It was decided that the focus of our next August Council meeting will be: How can we be real intentional and creative about reaching out?

A motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report was made by Dan Cassada and seconded by Erik Hasse.  Motion approved. 

President’s Report:

  • We reviewed the Proposed Continuing Resolution.
    •  A motion to approve the Continuing Resolution was made by Sue Johnson and seconded by Erik Hasse. Motion approved. After a short discussion, Sue revised her motion to include a sunset date of January 31st. The bylaws will be up for approval at the annual meeting, which will take place before this date. The revised motion was seconded by Georgia Larson. Motion approved.
  • Bill Fredrick gave us an update on the Giving Team. Vicki Weber has resigned from her position as the chair of this committee. Bill Fredrick and Sue Johnson will work together to take on this position.

Vice-President’s Report: 

  • The Leave a Legacy team did not meet in July, but does have a meeting date set for August 1st. They voted on a proposal for the backfill/landscape project via e-mail.
    • A motion to approve the backfill/landscape proposal was made by Julia Sevald and seconded by Erik Hasse. Motion approved.

Secretary’s Report:  No Report.   

Student Report:

  • Andrew returned from the mission trip on Sunday. They did some trail work and backpacked through the mountains in Colorado. It was a great trip. 11 juniors and seniors went on this trip, although 18 were originally signed up to go.

Andrew referred to Brent Haglund’s written report for additional updates:

  •  Backyard Bible Studies are now Backyard Bible Readings. They’re encouraging interpretation, life connection, and seeing God’s action rather than the textbook-like knowledge/fact approach.
  • Young Adult Bible studies are doing the same as above after Wednesday worships. Annie Grell is co-leading with Brent.
  • Mission Week (middle school) served at Feed My Starving Children, HOPE 4 Youth, ColdwaterSpringPark, and the Savsten’s, Betty Barrick, Kahlert’s, and Donna Velasco.

Pastoral Reports: 

Pastor Chad’s Report:   

  • The summer worship attendance continues to be good. We see the value each week of combining the Sunday services into one strong worship hour and adding the Wednesday evening service to the summer schedule.  We continue to see visitors attending both services.
  • The 2013 Vision Trip toTanzania was a great experience as a group of 19 people traveled throughout the Kilimanjaro region and to Bukoba inWestern Tanzania.  Our group made a donation in the amount of $8,000 to build safe new homes for two of the families in need we visited during our trip.  New friendships were begun and our partnership with Lutheran ministries and outreaches in TZ were strengthened. 
    • While Pastor Chad was away, the staff did a wonderful job leading worship and also providing pastoral care in planning and presiding at the funeral service for the family of Candi Krych.
    • Planning continues for the FinancialPeaceUniversity class to begin on September 18.  It will be important to have a strong show of support from council and other leadership by registering and participating in this great opportunity.  Signing up for the class is easy from our website or by stopping by the office.
    • Pastor Chad has interviewed a seminary student from Luther Seminary to explore the possibility for POP to be the teaching congregation for her practical experience during her coming year of seminary.  First and second year seminary students gain practical experience by working with the staff of a local congregation with the senior pastor serving as their supervisor.

AIM Natalia’s Report:

  • Summer worship is going great. It’s been busy, but so great around here. Sundays and Wednesdays have proven to be moving and meaningful times of worship for our members and it has been an honor to be a part of the team making sure things come together to create those moments for God to work in the lives of people around here.
  • GroupLife is enjoying our summer break, but looking forward to a fall kick-off in mid-October. Natalia is in need of new leadership for groups, so if you or anyone you know might be interested in leading (or co-leading) a group, let her know!
  • We are planning on some exciting topics for all the sessions of GroupLife. Fall we are going to focus on some thought-provoking and challenging “TED Talks,” and for the winter (post holiday break) sessions, we are going to bring back the newest round of DVDs from “Animate,” the group curriculum we used last fall. They have a new set coming out that is all about the Bible, and it should be interesting.
  • The Prince of Peace Summer ONE READ on Love Does, by Bob Goff has gone great! We are still reading it, but people are talking about it, and some have finished the book already, and some are just getting started. It’s a fun project, and Natalia hopes to do it again next year!
  • On October 15, Natalia has her endorsement interview with the Minneapolis Synod, and then she will begin her official “Internship Year” at Prince of Peace in January. This still puts her on track for ordination and call in the winter of 2014. Chad and Natalia are in regular conversation with the Bishop’s office, and they are all on board with where we’re going.

Council Reports

Each ministry team is to submit a written report each month.  These will be attached to the official minutes.  Highlights will be included in these minutes.

 Executive Team:  No Report.

 Spiritual Growth:

  • Georgia Larson expressed her concern about having a vision for her team. She proposed the idea of holding an “Educational Summit” in which she could gather all stakeholders (Katie, Brent, Natalia, active volunteers, etc…) and discuss concrete goals outlining what they would like the children, youth and adult programming to look like. The idea was discussed that it may be beneficial to outline all of the programs that are currently taking place so that it is easier to sit down and take a look at where there are opportunities for growth. This is something that she will look into.

 Sunday Morning Experience:  No Report.

 Congregational Care: 

  • The Congregational Care Team is forming a new Visitation Committee. As of now, Befrienders are making up this committee. They will work with Chad and Natalia and cover visitations. The big question they are focusing on right now is how people that need the visitations let Prince of Peace know. Hospitals are no longer allowed to call and inform us that a member is in their care, which many people may not know. We discussed our role in asking members if they have contacted the church office if they tell us about an upcoming surgery or anything else they may warrant a visit. We also discussed the idea that it is not just people in the hospital that may need a visit. It could be a single mom that just needs a break, etc… Erik mentioned that they are looking for more males to volunteer to become Befrienders.
  • An Emergency Contact Form will be included in a September bulletin to be filled out by members. These will be stored in the church office with staff, council and head ushers having access to them if the need arises.

 Outreach:

At the last meeting, the Outreach team discussed:

  • The new Brooklyn Park/Center meal calendar.  They will hand these out at Peace Feast. (They visited the kid meals at Brooklyn Methodist and Zanewood sites to distribute our cards.)
  • The need to keep Peace Feast in front of the congregation.  They have begun inviting more members and handing out cards for member distribution after services.  Bev wrote an e-news article and Lynn will schedule a ministry moment skit. Sandy’s husband will make a couple of pedestrian signs for Broadway advertising Peace Feast to put near intersections.
  • The need to keep bringing the meal opportunity and becoming a member of the Outreach team to the youth for their involvement.
  • Menu and volunteer plans for the upcoming months. Thanks to Sally Onstad’s small group for serving in June.  There were over 40 attendees.

Upcoming Items:

  • CEAPSchoolSupplies Drive
  • How to support Park Brook beyond just buying or giving (Adopt a Student?)
  • Our involvement at TreeHouse

 Community Life: 

  • CL is busy getting ready for Rally Day on September 8, 2013. It will be called “The Great POP Get Together”. It will be a “State Fair” themed day for all ages. This event will not only focus on the children, but everyone in the congregation. There will be games and activities for all including a baking contest that will be broken down into three age groups. The Community Life team will be contacting members of the congregation to be our judges and prizes will be awarded. The food will all be State Fair themed.
  • Community Life will be hosting the Wednesday night meal on August 14th.

 Unfinished Business:  None

 New Business: None

 A motion was made by Sue Johnson and seconded by Dan Cassada to adjourn the meeting.  Motion approved.  Meeting adjourned.

 Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Johnson

Secretary