Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Council Meeting
June 19, 2012 (Approved)
Present: Tom Heinrich, Bill Fredrick, Pastor Chad Brekke, AIM Natalia Terfa, Dan Ficken, Mary Gilleshammer, Bev Alsleben, Dan Cassada, Chuck Krych, and Allan Grant. Absent: Julia Sevald. Guest: Terri Revell
Call to Order: President Tom Heinrich called the meeting to order.
Devotions: Tom Heinrich led the opening devotions.
Adoption of Agenda: A motion was made by Chuck Krych and seconded by Mary Gilleshammer to adopt the Council agenda as amended. Motion approved.
Approval of Previous Minutes: A motion was made by Dan Ficken and seconded by Dan Cassada to approve the minutes from the May 15, 2012 Council meeting as written. Motion approved.
Report on Fall Stewardship Program: Stewardship Chair Terri Revell shared that the 2012 Stewardship Committee has chosen “Reflecting Grace in Giving” as the theme for this year’s program. The dates selected are October 28, November 4 and November 11, 2012 as Celebration Sunday. Plans are underway for an exciting and hopefully successful campaign to advance all ministries at prince of Peace.
Reports of Officers
- · Treasurer’s/Business Administrator’s Report: May offerings were significantly less than budgeted. May receipts are unfavorable to budget by $13,822; however disbursements are favorable to budget by $3,158. The general fund activity for the month was a loss of $10,062. This is unfavorable to budget for the month and to prior year (loss of $6,908 in May 2011).
- · Year to date receipts are still unfavorable to budget by $28,332, however disbursements are favorable to budget by $18,779 resulting in an overall negative variance to budget YTD of $9,553.
- · The only designated fund that had significant activity for the month was the Youth Plant Sale fund.
- · The building fund currently has a balance of ($4,587). There is $5,500 remaining in the mortgage reserve that has been approved to be moved to the building fund for purposes of covering this shortage. After this has been used, additional council action will need to be taken to move any further dollars from the mortgage reserve account and into the building fund (likely by July).
A motion was made to accept the Treasurer’s Report by Bill Fredrick and seconded by Chuck Krych. Motion approved.
President’s Report:
- · Stewardship Campaign: Tom thanked Terri for the hard work and planning that has taken place for this year’s Stewardship Campaign.
Vice-President’s Report:
Leave A Legacy Update: The total reported balance of funds in the Lutheran Community Foundation account is approximately $166,067. The total reported balance of funds in the Premier Bank Money Market account is approximately $6,171. The committee reported that they have moved $4,100 to fund disbursements for the first half of 2012. It was decided that the applications for monies from the LAL funds will become a 12 month process. Monies can be requested starting October 2012 and will require approval of the LAL committee as well as the full Congregational Council. Members thinking about requesting funds from the LAL Funds should start planning their requests.
Secretary’s Report: No Report
Pastor’s Report: Pastor Chad reported that several members have struggled with significant illness or the loss of a loved one in recent weeks and the congregation has continued to provide loving support. From funeral services and luncheons to providing meals and other kinds of assistance, he is constantly inspired by the number of people around POP willing to step in and serve those in need.
As we move toward the summer months, our staff is doing anything but slowing down or coasting. Plans are underway for the launch of our small group ministry in the fall led by Natalia and her group of more than twenty leaders committed to making the ministry a success. POPS Camp preparations are in full swing. Youth mission trip planning is moving forward. The final arrangements are in place for our first POP Vision Trip to Tanzania. He could go on, but you get the picture.
All six of our new or transitioning staff were installed on June 10. There were baptisms during each of those services so we had another profound and meaningful worship experience that day. The theme that morning was focused on a strong commitment to worship and we leveraged that theme to announce an exciting new summer worship schedule.
After extensive deliberation and discussion, we have developed a summer worship schedule, which will provide a vibrant worship experience even for those who travel to their cabins or other destinations on summer weekends. A new summer Wednesday evening service (we’re brainstorming on a name) will begin on July 11 and continue through the week leading up to Labor Day. Nate and members of our contemporary worship team will lead the music for the 6:30pm service in the CLC and occasionally outdoors when the weather permits. We envision a time of food and fellowship before the informal, family friendly service.
In conjunction with this change, we will adjust the Sunday morning schedule to include one 9am service beginning on July 1st through Sept. 2nd. The service will continue to follow the current traditional format with members of the contemporary worship team stepping in to participate by offering special music now and then.
Pastor Chad is confident that these adjustments to our summer worship schedule will be a benefit in a number of ways:
- · The 10:30am Sunday service is the hardest hit by the summer dip. The new schedule reduces the chances of first time visitors showing up to a very sparsely attended service. Those first impressions cannot be undone. One strong, well-attended Sunday morning service will be welcoming and affirming both to visitors and members.
- · We have already polled various member groups to gage interest in a Wednesday service this summer with encouraging results.
- · The new Wednesday service provides another opportunity to reach out to our neighbors with an invitation to join us.
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 Development: Reported on the work of the “Small Group Project” planning is now underway; they are looking at curriculum, setting up goals for the groups. They report this project has strong and excited leaders, look for a big kick-off this fall. AIM Natalia Terfa has done an amazing job with this project.
Sunday Morning Experience: The committee met on May 16th and discussed the year and what worked and recommendations for the future. A few recommendations are to get people trained for CPR, first responder, having team members meet/greet people; create a basic guidebook for the use of Sunday Morning Experience team captains.
Congregational Care: Reported on their work with the new members and Fellowship Friends. The committee has worked hard and the next New Member Class will be after Labor Day.
Outreach: The Committee reported on some events they are involved in; these included packing food at Feed My Starving Children, volunteering at Park Brook Elementary in their summer open Media Center program. CEAP is in need of food over the summer months with a target of healthy foods for the children that are at home during the summer.
Community Life: No report.
Unfinished Business: Pastor Chad shared a document that is available for people interested in providing a memorial to Prince of Peace.
Memorial Gift Options
Thank you for supporting the mission and ministry we share at Prince of Peace through a financial gift in memory of your loved one. Memorial gifts may be given as designated or undesignated funds. Undesignated gifts will be directed by our leadership toward the areas of ministry that will most benefit from these unbudgeted resources.
There is also an opportunity to direct memorial gifts to any one of our five ministry areas, which are outlined below. In addition to these five ministry areas, there is a special opportunity this year to designate memorial gifts toward a new church sign. The new electronic sign will be an effective tool for ministry and a visible expression of welcome to our entire community!
Sunday Morning Experience
This team makes the most of the opportunity we have to be a welcoming place every time we gather for worship. “From street to seat”, they help us expect guests and welcome everyone into a meaningful worship and fellowship experience.
Community Life
We believe all people need a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging. This team promotes a healthy, caring community, while strengthening the unique call on the congregation to partner with God in His mission.
Outreach
We believe we are called to be the hands and feet of God, serving God’s people locally, within our own community, and globally as He leads us. We seek opportunities to connect our gifts with God’s mission to live His creation throughout the world.
Congregational Care
We seek to grow servant hearts and connect people with their desire to belong to and support the mission of God. Here, we care for one another and meet people where they are in their journey of faith.
Spiritual Development
At the heart of our effort is to see people transformed by the good news of Jesus
Christ. This begins in baptism and continues throughout our lives. We focus on
helping people build a lasting faith on the foundation of God’s Word.
New Business: The Executive Committee submitted a motion to approve giving Treasurer Julia Sevald the authority to use additional mortgage reserve funds to cover any shortfalls in the Building Fund for 2012. The full council discussed the issue of reduced giving to the Building Fund and the recommended motion of the Executive Committee. A motion was made to approve giving Treasurer Julia Sevald the authority to use additional mortgage reserve funds to cover any shortfalls from the Building Fund to cover the mortgage payments in 2012 was made by Bill Fredrick and seconded by Chuck Krych. Motion approved
A motion was made by Dan Ficken and seconded by Dan Cassada to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved. Meeting adjourned.
The July 17th Council Meeting is cancelled. The next Council Meeting will be August 21, 2012.
Respectfully submitted,
Allan Grant
Secretary