Trinity Lutheran Church
January 10,2019
 
Members Present:  Pastor Megan, Jeff Niedenthal, Sonia Liedman, Greg Jans, Brian Weseman, Richard Larson
 
Council chairman Greg declared a quorum, and opened the meeting with devotions.
The agenda was approved ,
Reports:
            The secretary’s report from December 13 was read and approved.
            The treasurer’s report was read and approved.
            Pastor Megan provided her report.  Noted that we had a good attendance at Christmas services, and the following Christmas day dinner.  She has been busy with visitations.  Consecration Sunday letters of thank you have been mailed out. Special offering for Young Adult Global Mission will be held at a future worship.
 
Christion Ed:  Sunday school is scheduled to run through end of April.  Noted an increase of kids attending.  There was some discussion concerning staffing.
Organizations and Activities:  no report
Finance and Stewardship:  motion by Jeff second by Richard and approved to change the frequency of reporting in the Sunday bulletin, the budget, offering to date and expenditures to the 2nd Sunday of the month after discussion concerning the complications of the information and potential misunderstandings of the data.
Mission and Outreach:  will be recommending a month appeal for the congregation to donate non-perishable items at church prior to the determination of the menus we will pack during our assigned weeks upcoming this spring. Also asking for research into bulk grocery source.
Personnel:  no report
Properties:  monitoring window repair and brought up current status of signage due to time of service change.  There was also discussion concerning the condition of the basement carpet, as there is mold and should it be replaced.
Worship and Music:  no report
Other:  regarding the Library Committee, for purpose of providing an official notification to First State Bank of Grove City, the authorized officer(s) of the account for the Library Committee of Trinity Lutheran Church of Grove City will be Gloria J. Palmer and Nancy Boreen, replacing Betty Johnson.  Motion made by Sonia , seconded by Jeff to advance the motion, carried.
 
Old Business: 
            The storage room clean out is on-going, seeking input from members concerning what should be kept. Committee overseeing the cleanup is concerned that some of the items could be important,
The preparation for active shooter incident is on-going.
The church’s fire alarm system is not hooked to the fire department, extension to the church proper is on -going with advice to keep the doors at top of stairs open during non- church time.
The church driver program is on-going, with hope to create a list of eligible drivers and those who desire rides.
Creation of a Funeral Policy is on-going.
Annual meeting is scheduled for January 27.
Updating of Membership Records.  Should stewardship committee be the responsible committee to handle this issue?
Hope In the Heartland:  there will be a synod sponsored meeting February 2nd at Ebenezer Church in Kandiyohi. Topic is the future of the rural church in Minnesota.
There was no new business.
There was no need to go into Executive Session
Meeting was adjourned with the Lords Prayer.
**Approved during Regular Meeting February 14, 2019**

            TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
                             REGULAR CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING –  Dec. 13, 2018
 
Present:  Pastor Megan Preston, Greg Jans,  Dennis Brown, Mardelle Crist, Jeff Niedenthal,   Sonia Liedman,  Richard Larson, and Sharon Smith. 
 
Greg called the meeting to order at 7:00.  Mardelle shared an article from God Pause about John the Baptist’s call to repent in this Advent season.  Jeff moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Richard.  Motion carried.
 

1. Reports:  Secretary
   1. Minutes of the Nov. meeting had been emailed to council members.  Jeff moved to approve, seconded by Dennis.  Motion carried.
   2. Treasurer

Sonia had emailed her reports to council members.  We are still ahead of budget, with all bills up to date.   Prior to the meeting, with council approval, Sonia had purchased  two 55” TVs and a sturdy TV stand, having found a deal that saved several hundred dollars.  These will be used for Sunday School/general use and in Frank’s Place.  This equipment was paid for with existing budgets, and the need for it had been discussed at earlier meetings.  The final payment to A+ Painting for the steeple painting and repair has been made.  WELCA donated $3000 for repairs, and donations from the congrega-
tion of $5876 covered all but $119 of the cost, paid by the building fund.
Consecration Sunday yielded a 9.34% increase in giving over the present year, with an anticipated income for 2019 of $182,114.38.  Richard moved to approve the report, seconded by Mardelle.  Motion carried.

1. Pastor

Pastor Megan began her report by reviewing the Consecration Sunday results.  She will send a thank you letter to the congregation.  She officiated at five Advent services, and has been doing home visits and continuing studies.  Thanksgiving worship went well.  She has met with Trinity committees, plus the monthly pastors’ meetings.   She concluded, “It was a good month.”
Because Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse) was such a success,
additional money is needed to pay for shipping.  Dennis moved that Thrivent Choice money be used, seconded by Jeff.  Motion carried.

1. Committee Reports: 
   1. Christian Education and Youth – Jeff told us that an event is scheduled for next Sunday for the older kids to get together at Frank’s Place, enjoy pizza and pop, and watch the Vikings game.  The Sunday School program is 12/16.
   2. Church Properties – no report.
   3. Organizations and Activities – Mardelle reported that the Advent suppers are proceeding.  Money given for Sunday morning coffee will be donated in the same way in 2019 as it was in 2018.
   4. Finance – Sonia presented the proposed 2019 Annual Budget.  There were small changes from 2018.  Richard moved to recommend this budget to the congregation, seconded by Jeff.  Motion carried. 
   5. Missions and Outreach -  Dennis told us that all the Christmas gifts from the giving tree in the narthex were delivered to the Holiday Projects.  Fifteen kids will receive gifts from Trinity!
   6. Personnel – no report.
   7. Worship, Music and Arts – Sharon mentioned that the Sunday School program will be Dec. 16, with our Christmas Eve service at 4:30.  Richard will lead the lay service of readings and carols on Dec. 30.  Global Church Sunday is Jan. 13, with a speaker.  On Jan. 20, Pastor Donna Olson will be leading us.  

      

1. Old Business - 
   • Frank’s Place is in good shape, but there is a store room that still needs cleaning.
   • Preparing for an Active Shooting – Pastor Megan has talked to other pastors, but people don’t know what to do.  She said that Sam Swisher would have good resources.
   • Church Fire Alarm System – We received a bill for inspecting the canister over the stove.  American Welding and Gas checks out the fire extinguishers.  There are smoke detectors only in the fellowship hall.  The existing Simplex system is fine as far as it goes. It would cost $400 - $500 to install a system that would call dispatch at a central location.  There would be an annual fee plus a phone fee.  Greg will get a quote on this.  Richard moved that the council authorize up to $2500 in upgrades for smoke detectors, seconded by Jeff.  Motion carried.
   • Gutter covers are on hold due to winter weather.
   • AED trainings – Pastor Megan said that this has been rescheduled.
   • Gutter covers – these have been ordered for the back of the church.
   • Rides to church – We need to make people aware that we will have driver volunteers.  This opportunity should be added to the Time and Talent sheets.  The Mission committee will check on insurance.
   • Funeral policy – tabled until January.

 
 

1. New Business –
   • The Annual Meeting will be Jan. 27, with a backup date of Feb. 3.  Pastor Megan has a letter drafted to let the congregation know the date that will include a Time and Talent sheet. 
   • Updating Membership Records – The data base needs updating, as it currently includes members who have passed away.  The financial secretary, the treasurer, and the office manager all have different functions, but all need the system to be accurate.  The Personnel Committee will work on this.
   • Hope in the Heartland – this is a Synod-sponsored event, working on the topic of the future of small congregations.  Each congregation can bring a group, but need to register by Jan. 25.
   • Equipping Congregations Day – there will be a sign-up sheet.
   • YAGM – (Young Adult in Global Mission) – Jan. 13 – we will have a young woman visiting Sunday School and Sunday worship.
   • There was a question of whether or not to advertise our Christmas worship.  Jeff moved that we do not have an ad, seconded by Dennis.  Motion carried.
   • Council Retreat – Tentatively set for Feb. 9.  The council will assess how last year’s goals were met and perhaps add a couple more.

 
Executive Session – there was no executive session.
 
Adjournment and Lord’s Prayer – Greg adjourned the meeting at 9:23,  and we closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Smith, Secretary
 
Next meeting is January 10, 2019
December Council Assistant is Greg Jans
 
 
**Minutes Approved at January 10, 2019 Meeting**
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