Council Blog

Treasurer

10-16-2019

The Church Financials for September 2019 are attached. At the bottom of the report I have attached two charts: (1) The 2018-2019 electrical costs. As you can see the cost savings from a/c and LED replacements are starting to take effect; (2) The other chart displays the 2018-2019 general fund balances at the end of each month. Of note, is that a large contribution received in the April-May time period, allows us to keep our general fund in a positive position. Otherwise, our balance would be in a negative position.

Balances in other key funds as of September 30 are as follows:
Building Fund – $16,804
Major Building Repairs – $11,262
Capital Fund Drive – $20,614
TOTAL $48,686

Church Mortgage balance as of October 1, 2019 is $172,491.

The Finance Committee met on September 26 and October 10 to formulate a 2019 budget proposal. The proposal will be presented by Tina Crawn at the October council meeting with a proposed approval date at the November council meeting.

A new computer has been purchased for counters, as the old one is no longer working. Several individuals have volunteered to act as counters and are in the process of being trained. More volunteers are still needed.

Our Raymond James investment account is valued at $110,990 at the end of September compared to $97,697 at the beginning of this year.

08-20-2019

Diane Bursey, Chris Russell, Larry Holihan, Karissa Schorer, Tina Crawn, Pastor Dennis Schmidt, Tom Klinger, Mike Walls, Connie Kersten & Joe Montfort

Marian Larson, Peg Massaro

Call to Order – 6:32p
Minutes of Previous Meeting – No questions or concerns

Financial Committee: Report Date 08-19-2019
Items Discussed: Pam Brosonski will audit the church financials in the next few weeks. The Capital Campaign to raise $150,000 started on August 1. The goal is to raise this amount by the end of 2020, eliminate the church mortgage, and pay for remaining air conditioner upgrades. As of this date about $13,000 has been designated toward this goal. Some of the money was raised prior to the August 1 start date. As of yet, we have not yet seen savings from the energy reduction projects (e.g. outdoor lighting, led lights, new a/c, etc.). Usage seems on a par with last year. It is difficult to ascertain if any additional usage is due to hotter weather this summer. We need to already start thinking of our budget for the 2020 year. Financials are on track and in the norm
Recommendations/Action: We need to come up with a plan to obtain more counters. Counting should be accomplished in a group of at least two members and counting conducted on the church site.

Member visits – 7, New Member visits – 0, Prospective Member visits- 4, Hospital Visitations – 3, Nursing Home/Hospice Visitations – 5, Private Communions – 5, Crisis Interventions – 2, Meetings – 7, Consultations – 5, Worship Services – 4, Classes taught – 0, Adult Bible Study – 0, Official Pastoral Acts –

Property Committee Report – Garage is making progress and should be completed soon. Put sealer on the garage floor. Looking into getting a new lawn service. Someone from the Property Committee will meet with new prospective people and go over the scope of work and ensure they have insurance. Mean to Clean review- cleaning well, however, issues keeping paper towels and toilet paper stocked. Chris will make contact to address concerns. Keys- we have records of who has keys and what keys they have. Men’s group needs a key to the kitchen, motion to give Chris and Joe a master key (excluding Pastor’s office, admin office) as Property Committee motioned by Tina, seconded by Karissa, motion carried. List of Vendors- in the office, need to include newest additions. Quotes to have chairs cleaned in the sanctuary; Chairs- 250-300 are $4 each. Motion to get the blue sanctuary chairs and the blue chairs in the classroom cleaned. Motion by Tina, seconded by Karissa, motion carried. Pressure wash big cross that faces 27, possibly do the front of the church. Nick Brosonski is setting up a proposal to trim the rest of the trees and for lawn maintenance.

Worship & Music – 5-6 members on an Outreach Program led by Pam Schuetz, beginning with “God’s Work. Our Hands.”, October 27th is Reformation Sunday one service at 9:30 am
November 3rd All Saints Sunday, November 30th Christmas decorating. Pam is planning a Veterans Sunday, Thanksgiving – Maybe go out into the public in future years, Advent- first service only is potluck. Christmas with the Angels again and Christmas Eve service 6pm and 8pm

Interior Signage- all signs and brackets are here and will be hung soon
Door security- new doorbell with a camera. Electronic Signs permit- still waiting on Clermont Signs. Time and Talent Survey- approximately 30, holding until snowbirds return. Personnel Committee – Diane, Lou Johnston & Tina. Education Mission Team- to put together a Sunday School program; will look on the time and talents survey to see interest. Sunday School will be at 9:15am-10:00am. Pastor is trying to do an Adult Bible study during the week- mornings, afternoons, or evenings

Dumpster- put a large 20-yard dumpster once we determine what is to be done about the excess Christmas Trees. Supply Pastor request Nov.17th and Nov. 24th. Nov 17th we may have a guest speaker from Food for the Poor for free, however will need us to provide a hotel room. Nov 24th we will need to find someone to lead the service.
Russia Ensemble – Russian folk songs and Christmas music Concert in the Church in December. Requests $800 minimum donation, food, and a place to stay; Voted no by the council. November 17th is a “Stand Down” event for Vets. Move the change for change money to this during the months of October and November. Change for Change for December and January is Forward Pass. Documentation of organist interventions. Actively investigate getting a new organist – put in add on ELCA synod web news and our church email news. Contact organ instructors. Sanctuary Denomination- in the policy committee. Stewardship – we need to be proactive; Joe will take ownership of the Stewardship Committee. Council members take turns doing Temple Talks. Council should have a retreat to learn more about each other and learn how to work together better

Adjournment at 8:27 pm
Closed with the Lord’s Prayer
Devotion for September is Pastor
Next council meeting on September 17th at 6:30

2019-09-17

Pastor Dennis

Minutes of the previous meeting

Pastor Dennis

Larry Holihan

Worship & Music, Property Committee

1. Update from Building Committee regarding the garage
2. Church signage update
3. Mean to Clean update – coming up on 90-day probation period
4. Electronic sign permit and drawings
5. Time and Talent Surveys update – possible Sunday School teacher?
6. Personnel and Policy Mission Team update
7. Education Mission Team update
8. Tree trimming bids & Lawn care bids
9. Cross Cleaning Update
10. Dumpster Update
11. Stewardship Update
12. Supply pastor request for Nov. 17th and 24th. Did we approve Food for the Poor for the 24th? (need housing)
13. Dire need for counters, new council members, treasurer. Need a nominating committee. Should be made up of outgoing council members.
14. Other

1. Need to move date of October mtg. to either 9th or 23rd.
2.
Remodeling of copy closet/storage closet project to provide a workroom and to provide a storage area for janitorial supplies/pantry by closing off Sacristy and putting door from copy room in Kitchen to access.
Items needed for completion
Sheetrock mud and tape – workroom and kitchen
Suspended ceiling channel to finish ceiling – workroom
Floor tile to finish floor – workroom
Lower cabinets from Ikea for workroom
L- shaped Countertop for cabinets in workroom
Expenses to come from building maintenance or possible leftover Thrivent funds?
3. Other

Adjournment/Closing Prayer Next Meeting Date-Tuesday, October 15, 2019 @ 6:30pm October Devotion – Tom Klinger

Worship and Music

07-25-2019

Marie Johnson
Pam Brosonski
Rita Schmidt
Pam Schuetz
Larry Holihan
Joe Foryan
Pastor Dennis Schmidt

Chris Morse was absent as she was out of town

Meeting convened at 6:30 pm

Possibility of conducting monthly/bimonthly pot luck lunches after worship was discussed. Only negative is maybe leaving out 8:00 worshipers, as they would have to return to church. This item was left open.

God’s Work Our Hands Sunday will be on September 8 with one service at 9:30 am. Then we will have lunch and go out in the community with service projects. Pam Schuetz is coordinator for this event. There are lots of suggested activities for each age group. Tee shirts will be ordered and sign ups will begin the last week in July.

On September 15, 2019 we will return to two Sunday services at 8:00 am and 10:15 am.

October 27 is Reformation Sunday. One service at 9:30 am will be followed by our annual Reformation celebration with brats and pot luck after the service.

November 3 will be celebration of All Saints Day with remembrances of those departed.

A special event honoring Veterans is planned for November.

Christmas decorating in the chancel will be on Saturday November 30 at 10:00 am.

Wednesday Advent services will be held beginning on December 4. A potluck will be held for the first service on December 4 only.

Breakfast With the Christmas Angels will be held on Saturday, December 7.

Christmas program with Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday December 15.

Christmas Eve Services will be held at 6:00 and 8:00 pm. It was recommended that we add luminaries to the entranceway and driveway for this celebration.

There will be no service on Christmas Day.

Church sponsor Thanksgiving dinner at the church for members. Each member would bring dishes. Needs to have an organizer for this event. it is recommended that the church begin offering Thanksgiving dinner (not necessarily on Thanksgiving Day) to those in need starting in 2020.

Pam Schuetz was given an invitation to join the committee.

Worship and Music

06-16-2019

No meeting was held this month.