Trinity Lutheran Church, Grove City, MN, Church Council Minutes, Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 @ 6:30 pm

Members present:  Missy Bergstrom, Sonia Liedman, Willis Chase, Jake Boonstra, Chris Slinden, Joe Jans, Kyle Larsen, Pastor Donna Putney
Not present:  Pam Bagley
CALL TO ORDER - Melissa Bergstrom, President Meeting was called to order at 6:33pm by President Missy Bergstrom
Council jobs were discussed and assigned:
President:  Missy Bergstrom
Vice President:  Willis Chase
Secretary:  Joe Jans
Treasurer:  Sonia Liedman
All of the Council members will be remaining on their current committees.
Faithful Innovations were shared by Joe Jans, Willis Chase, Kyle Larsen, Pastor Donna
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  Motion was made by Chris Slinden and seconded by Jake Boonstra to accept the agenda with one change (March Council Assistance is Joe Jans, not February) and one addition (parsonage colors).  Motion Carried
Annual Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Chris Slinden and seconded by Jake Boonstra to approve the minutes.  Motion carried

1. Reports
   1. Secretary - Joe Jans
      1. Minutes from January 26th, 2025, Annual Meeting Minutes Approved Motion Sonia Liedman, Second Joe Jans  Motion Carried
      2. Minutes from January 14th, 2025, Motion: Kyle Larsen, Second: Willis Chase Motion Carried
   2. Treasure - Sonia Liedman

When lump sum tithes are given at the beginning of the year, Sonia will divide the amount by the twelve months and report it as monthly giving to reflect monthly income.
Sonia needs to be told if bills are for the parsonage or the church building for tax purposes.  Kyle made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report. Chris Slinden seconded the motion.  Motion carried

1. Pastor’s Report:
   1. First Communion Class is March 15, 2025 at Green Lake Bible Camp.  A class will be offered on March 16 during Sunday School for those who were unable to attend the March 15th event.

ii.

1. Confirmation Mentor/Mentee I will be meeting with the students and mentors after Ash Wednesday service for a 15-20 minute meeting      
2. Round Robin Midweek Lent services…I will be here on Ash Wednesday and April 9.  There will be visit Crow River Conference pastors at Trinity as guest pastors and I will be at their churches.
   3/12: Pastor Janine
   3/19: Pastor Mark Little
   3/26:  Pastor Mindy
   4/2: Pastor Sarah
   4/9:  Pastor Donna
3. I would like to recognize our Trinity Visitors for everything they do to keep our members who have a difficult time getting to the church in touch with what is happening at Trinity.  We will have an official appreciation event in the future.
4. Form A Annual Report has been sent to the ELCA Churchwide in Chicago
5. Synod Assembly registration is open Becky Vann & Jeff Niedenthal will be attending in-person…I have not decided yet if I will be online or in-person
6. The people I have asked like the gluten-free communion bread I have been using.  We will continue using it for now.  
7. There will be five Cooperative worship services this summer.  Are we going to do a service at Trinity as well as the Coop service?
8. Crow River Conference Meeting is February 23 @ Gethsemane in Dassel, 2:00pm  Missy Bergstrom and Greg Jans will be attending
9. SWMN Synod Lutheran Men in Ministry looking for members to re-establish this group

 

1. Committee Reports
   1. Christian Education and Youth – Willis

Sunday School is going well.  Confirmation youth are opening up in class.  Planning events for the youth from all the Coop churches attending the Omaha trip. 

1. Organizations & Activities (Fellowship – Jake)
   1. Coffee Money – May through December: tabled until March meeting

Jake will be talking to Becky about making Midweek Lent sign-up sheets
Jake will be consider organizing a Movie Night
Council will be serving the meal on March 12 before worship

1. Finance & Stewardship – Sonia: No report
2. Missions & Outreach Ministry – No report
3. Personnel – Joe

Met recently (Marcia, Joe, & Jeff).  Will be meeting with the janitors to complete a performance review.

1. Annual Reviews - Janitors
2. Sunday morning Accompanist Worship, Music, & Arts - Pam

May 4 will be First Communion Sunday, Will be using setting 8 Lent through Memorial Day; People will be asked to list their favorite hymns and they will be used throughout the summer; Ash Wednesday is March 5 there will be a service with Holy Communion; worship committee members will be cleaning the sacristy area on February 16, Lent midweek services will be held in the sanctuary; Bibles will be distributed on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday

1. Properties - Kyle
   1. Fundraiser – Parsonage Repairs
   2. Church Roof
   3. Balcony railing
   4. Parsonage colors

Continuing to work on all the projects

1. Endowment Committee: No report
2. COOP News:  There will be five Coop church services during the summer months.

 

1. Old Business
   1. February 16th  Council Members Installation: reminded to be present if possible
   2. February 16th  Declutter/Purge Meeting after church – Create Plan:  A plan was discussed and Council members will direct people to find an area to purge and clean.
   3. June 26th 2025, Sip and Sing with the Basics (meal 5:00, music 6:30), asking the Council to approve $400 for the musicians and $300 for food from the Thrivent Choice Dollars to help cover costs. Motion was made by Kyle Larsen to use the dollars listed above to assist with costs and seconded by Joe Jans.  Motion carried.

 

1. New Business
   1. Offering Envelopes:  Should we be asking people if they want offering envelopes?  Will ask members what they want before these are ordered in 2025.
   2. Constitution – Active versus inactive members: Organize as per the information Missy has collected through her phone calls to those listed in the directory.  Sonia and Pastor Donna will read the Constitution to determine who should be transferred to an inactive list.
   3. Council Organization:  See above
   4. Council Member Retreat: Council would like to have a retreat.  Chris will check when we can reserve a place for a retreat.  More information to come.

 

1. Adjournment & Lord’s Prayer:  Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm. Willis made the motion and  Joe seconded it.  Motion carried
   1. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 @ 6:30
   2. March Council Assistant – Joe Jans

 
                **Minutes approved at Regular Church Council Meeting - March 11, 2025**
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