September 2005 Church Council Report

Cynthia McLaren

 

 

Education:

 

The last weeks of August were busy as rooms were prepared for classes and final preparations were made for volunteer teachers.  An orientation session was held on Aug. 30 for teaching staff and a “get acquainted” event was held for our 3year olds and their parents.  

 

The Sunday School year began on Sept. 11 with Rally Day!  Everyone met in the Sanctuary for songs and a brief activity on the theme: “Colors of Our Faith.”  Youth then found their classrooms and made beaded bracelets/key chains using these colors. 

 

We have a wonderful group of volunteers and attendance was very strong for the beginning of a new year.  The large dividers in the Fellowship Hall have allowed us to divide our larger classes into more manageable groups.  All of our spaces are now in use during the education hour on Sunday mornings.

 

The new cabinets in the Ed. Resource room are wonderful!!  What a luxury to be able to organize our materials and have a place for teachers to find supplies easily.  Thanks for supporting this project.

 

 

Music:

 

As of this week, all music groups are back into a regular schedule of rehearsals .  We have 2 chime groups, 3 choirs for youth and a senior choir that meet regularly.  Instrumentalists meet as needed.   Everyone is encouraged to participate in one of these groups that regularly contribute to worship and enjoy great fellowship as well.

 

Organ dedication is set for Sun., Nov. 6, 3:00 p.m.  The organ committee is working on publicity and details.  It will include congregational hymns, music by Brassworks with organ, choir and selections by guest organists. 

 

I continue to serve on a Synod Committee that is working to strengthen hymn singing in our congregations.  We meet periodically and are looking for ways to introduce new hymns from Renewing Worship—the new hymnal to be published by the ELCA in fall of 2006.  We also want to provide a core of hymns that all members, young and old, should have in their memory.

 


2005 Youth Calendar

 

September

 

Confirmation kickoff

 

 

Mission trip PR and planning

March

 College packages

Faith Mentorship

Dedication of Youth Room

 

Youth led Sunday—no music

 

Starlight’s Kickoff

 

October

 

Corn Maze

April

Halloween Party

30 Hour Famine

Confirmation-dinner, event and ?connection with mentors

Faith Mentorship

GEV Youth blast

Lock In

November

 

 Bracelet Beading

 

College Thanksgiving get together?

May

 

Car Wash

 

 

December

 

Finals Study Night

June

College get together

Finals Study Night

 

Mid Week Middle School

 

 

January

July

Ski Trip Middle School

Mission Trip

 

Mid Week Middle School

 

 

 

 

February

August

Ski Trip High School

Boundary Waters Trip

 

Mid Week Middle School

 

 

 

September 06

 

 

 

 

Note—Sunday Youth Group is not noted with monthly events.  Open Youth room Wednesday and Sunday PM’s

Other things to think about-

n      Should we email a newsletter to youth/parents with reminders of these events?

n      Have we targeted all our groups of kids?  Please look at your list of kids and see who we have missed in these events?

n      How are we planful to support leaders and include all?

 

 

Notes from Youth Meeting

 

 

Mark, Ken and I met on Wednesday.  We would like to try to meet later in the month to get set up for school year—are we meeting too often—everyone ok with that? 

 

We need to submit budget for next year.  Maybe we should do that in a small group first and come prepared to do that?  Volunteers? 

 

We are looking at August 23rd  24th or 25th to meet.  Please let me know your availability.

 

 We spent most of our time working on the above calendar.   We would like to continue to look at this and see what needs to be added/ supported by volunteers etc.  We would like to have a group of youth give feedback about what we have planned.

 

We also spent time talking about using our youth room on Sundays.  We would like to have some sort of casually structured event on Sundays.   We came up with a list of potential hosts for this.

We would like pairs to rotate and come up with some sort of format.  I connected with Mt. Olive and they have a forum with people coming and get around 15 youth each Sunday.  I will get their calendar from them.  Mark is checking with other youth leaders to see what they do.  Jeff—I wondered if we could rotate the helpers in your class—they tend to be highly respected kids and if they you could have 2 groups of kids and have them in youth room/your class every other week that might help get things started  

( random thought, please comment).  We are aiming for a planning meeting for August 29th with the adults.   Mark—are you going to connect with these folks to see if they are willing?

 

Mark is set for a Boundary Waters Trip mid month. 

 

Jackie is planning the girls shop for school event. 

 

Becky has ordered outdoor equipment. 


Dates to note – GS Pig Roast September 18th

                       --Potluck for PC August 21st


We talked a bit about doing a youth room dedication with Pig Roast

 

We also talked about having kids connect with other kids, so they will become connected with the church.  EX-Kids who have gone to camp or starlights together are more willing to try new church activities with friends. 

 

Youth Committee Report August 2005

Attending:  Jackie Brown, Mark Hannon, Becky Fluegel, guests-Eric Schlicht and Janis Evers.  Eric is interested in joining youth committee!!

 

General Agenda Items

1.    Eric Schlicht joined us—and is interested in joining out group!!  Kim Bertrum may also join us next month!!  

2.    Janis came to ask if we could assist at the pig roast.  We will host the crochet ball, Boche ball and street hockey.  Eric and Michelle will host for part of the time.  Jackie will put youth request in Happynings for help

3.    Discussed Starlights.  Janis is working with Mark to get this started again. 

4.    Reviewed budget, made a few changes, ready for council approval

5.    Reviewed the elementary shopping/fashion show evening.  We have a large group of girls, many younger girls who we have not connected with youth group, so we are very excited about that.  Janis will make sure each girl leaves with an invitation for Starlights.  We have changed date to Monday so it does not conflict with meet the teacher date. 

6.    Dedication of Youth Room, outdoor equipment, camperships.  We will do this at the pig roast, just prior to the DJ.  Mark will make announcements.  Jackie and Mark will put a summary insert in Happynings on 8/14. 

7.    Discussed Ruth and Eve Friedli’s proposal for congregational home business vendors to have a fund raiser for youth.   Tentatively scheduled this for 10/9 after late service.  Becky will take to council for approval and put call for others to participate in Happynings.  Becky will request Thrivent matching funds.  Mark will review funding needs so we can direct money to area most needed. 

8.    Sweet rolls fund raiser—talked about having the frozen dough (Rhodes rolls) so non-bakers could do these and would have more quality consistency. 

9.    Reviewed our goal of having a Sunday morning time for post-confirmation youth.   We have several people who have expressed an interest and will meet on 8/29 to plan for the first part of the year. 

10.          We will discuss our July 2006 mission trip in September; we would like to start planning right away.

11.          Discussed Peer Ministry.  Mark has debated if we should continue this, as is time intensive, but so valuable.  It focuses on 10-11-12 grades and does specific skill training, focus on educating your heart to care, applying the skills in different environments.  October XX is planned for a retreat to kick off the program. 

12.          Confirmation.  Almost all set.  Letter will go out soon with dates to kick off confirmation.  Mark will request confirmation kids to pay for meal upfront to assure kids are contributing to meal. 

13.          Please start watching the newspaper for articles which feature GS youth, so we can begin our youth in the news board.

14.          Mark will purchase and arrange for installation of bulletin board outside of youth room. 

15.          We did not talk about this, but Becky will try to find parents with college aged kids to organize the care packages.  When I met with these parents we talked about having a map with locations of college youth noted and perhaps contact information.  Maybe we could do a card/small care package for birthdays for youth away at college.  We will put this on our agenda for next month. 

 

NEXT MEETING!!!! Scheduled for September 12th at 6pm—please check you calendars and let me know if that works.  We will change time/date if we need to make sure all can attend.

 

 

 

 

Agenda Items Needing Assistance from Council

 

1)   please approve fundraiser in # 6

2)  budget proposal attached

3) 

 

Status Report on GSLC Visioning Implementation Plan (use this space to communicate current status, accomplishments, concerns, or open issues relevant to the GSLC Visioning goals for which your committee is a champion)

 

 

Does your committee need assistance from Long Range Planning to work through any aspect of the GSLC Visioning Implementation Plan? 

 

 

 

Council Liaison:  Becky Fluegel

Date Submitted:

 

 

CHURCH IN SOCIETY        

SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

NEXT MEETING: OCTOBER 10, 2005

 

1.      BUDGET:  We decided to keep our budget the same as last year.

 

2.      COOKBOOK:  Our payoff for the cookbook is finished and everything we sell from now on goes to IHN and Salvation Army.  We still have plenty to sell.

 

3.       IHN:  Our next host week will be October 23.

 

4.      GLOBAL OUTREACH:  Blankets are needed for Camp Ripley.  Betty will get a note into the Happyenings.

 

5.      CHANGE FOR CHANGE:  Will go to Circle Center.

 

6.      COOKIES FOR HOPE LODGE:  We  will do on our own this October.  We will have it on the Friendship Pad for sign up.  We will make sure they get there.

 

7.      UP-COMING EVENTS:  Giving Tree will go up and be ready the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

 

Submitted:  Val Jorgensen, in Christ


 

 Technology Committee Report

 

Next Meeting:

Date: 10.12.05 Time: 7pm

 

 

General Agenda Items (discussion points, action items, follow-up items, etc.)

 

            Members able to attend – Steve Howe, Paul Willemsen, Lori Gartner, Mark Manges

 

1)    The Technology 2006 budget request is (same as last year):

 

        Equipment - Technology $3000

        Equipment maint/supplies $1800

        Telephone/yellow pages $2000

        Computer system support $1250

        Computer lab $1500

 

2) need to determine how to handle email sent to gscpastor@goodshepherdchurch.net.  Paster Tom Hansen prefers to use his own email and gscpastor account needs to be monitored and handle received emails appropriately.  Due to possible sensitivity of some emails, this shouldn't be handle lightly until we learn otherwise.

 

Pastor Tom will be asked to start monitoring/answering this ID besides his own personal ID.

 

3) Pastor Tom also chooses to use his own lap top PC.  So, the PC Pastor Chris used is sitting disconnected.  We'll discuss what should be done with that PC.

 

This PC will be kept safe and reactivated as a spare or when the permanent pastor comes on board.

 

4) Two old computer lab machines are available for give away.  Basically just cleared the power on password

 

This has been done.  People have already expressed interest in these systems.

 

5) Old secretary monitor has been acting up ... making a disturbing buzz after being on all day.  Should we investigate getting it repaired or just toss?  I believe Best Buy charges $75 just to look at it and would apply to repair.  It's a ViewSonic G790 series flat monitor ... pretty nice.  I currently have it at home ... waiting our decision.

 

            Best Buy will be contacted.

 

6) Some reason the 'dial lock' feature hasn't be activated on phone line 289-1748.  I suspect the 'toll restriction' hasn't been applied either.  I'll need to start this discussion with Qwest again.

 

            This process will be started over again.  Frustrating that the first contact with Qwest didn’t complete the process.           

 

7) Lori Gartner is the keeper of password information … updates will be sent to her.

 

8) Steve Howe will run a spyware checker against Cynthia’s PC … Paul W thought it was running slow

 

9) GSC Voice mail needs to be updated.  Mark H seems to know the password … he’ll be contacted.  Also need to get this password sent to Lori Gartner for her records.

 

10) Paul Willemsen is the GSC web site maint man … a backup person is needed.  Any volunteers should contact Paul.

 

 

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

 

            1) nothing at this time.

 

 

Status Report on GSLC Visioning Implementation Plan (use this space to share with council current status, accomplishments, new developments, or outstanding issues relevant to the goals your committee is tasked with as one of the champions)

 

            1)  Nothing at this time.

 

 

Does your committee need assistance from the Long Range Planning Committee at this time to proceed with implementation of the GSLC Visioning Plan?

 

Nothing at this time

 

Date submitted: 09.14.05

Council Liaison: Mark Manges

 


Worship Committee Report 09/12/2005

Present: George Price, Cynthia McLaren, Brenda Booth, Bruce Larson, Guest: Mark Hannon

 

                                                                                                                                Next Meeting:

                                                                                                                                Date:  10/10/05  Time: 5:30 pm

General Agenda Items

 

1) Budget – Finalized 2006 Worship Committee budget and placed in Michelle’s folder.  George will ask for Council approval to purchase an additional 4-drawer file cabinet for Cynthia’s music storage.

 

2) Eternal Candle- Discussed ordering Kerry oil (from Kerry Collection web site) as trial to see if  the eternal candle would burn more efficiently.   Oil to be paid out of Worship Supplies line item. Note: George ordered oil to be delivered to GSC, along with new wicks.

 

3) Organ Dedication – Cynthia noted the organ dedication will be held Sunday, November 6th at 3:00 p.m. GSC Brass and Senior choir will also be included.  Cynthia would like original organ committee to regroup for this event; she will be contacting those members.

.

4) Sanctuary Chairs -  Discuss number of old chairs currently placed around the church.  Cynthia will contact Margaret Frye, Word of Life Church, to see if they would be in need of some of our surplus chairs (old sanctuary chairs).   More discussion in October.

 

5)  Youth Led Services – Bruce discussed current wording of youth led services with LRP.  LRP believes we should incorporate youth into services as currently done, such as lectors, singers, communion assistants, cantors, ushers, etc.   Worship Committee discussed having one entirely led youth group service per quarter.  Mark shared the following:  holding youth led service would incorporate more youth being involved, if it is their peer group doing the entire service.   Mark also suggested connecting youth with committees they are interested in, such as computers with the Technology Committee.   Worship will work with Youth Committee on suggestions.

 

Agenda Items Needing Assistance from Council

 

1)  Approval of purchase of file cabinet for Cynthia

 

Council Liaison:   George Price

Date Submitted:   09/17/2005

 

 

Committee Report Template (Property Committee)

 

Next Meeting:

Date:_12 Sept 20057PMTime:_______

Charlie,Doyle, Scott,Bob,and Weldon Attended this meeting.

 

General Agenda Items (discussion points, action items, follow-up items, etc.)

 

            1)  Doyle  looked into our current insurance policy and made several  recommendations in a detailed report that needs revision.  He feels we need to insure for the full value of the property instead of the 80% now in effect.  Commitee agrees and needs council involvement.

           

            2)  Weldon will contact people for the snow removal duties for the 2005-2006 season.

 

            3)  Dumster is now in place of the current plastic containers.  This will free up some space and not smell in the church. (closed)

 

            4)  Landscaping proposal introduced and the committee liked the idea.  However concerns over the trees in front of the windows was a major concern and handicap access to the ampitheater.  Followup with the landscaping commitee is required.

 

            5)  Request for a 12' ladder was addressed.  Insurance issues were addressed.  Doyle checked out the policy and it was decided do get rid of the old/faulty ladder and replace it.  (closed)

 

 

            6)  Budget was discussed in depth and submitted to Michele for council meeting.  Increases in fuel were a major concern and increased accordingly.  (closed)

 

            7)  Lighting for the parking area discussed and hopefully before the snow flies we will have a plan.

 

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

 

            1)  Proposal for new lighting in the old Library and tables. (2K) requested.

 

            2)  Still working for the humidifier system for the church.

 

            3)Request from the Landscaping committe for adding a budget expense item to the ledger.

 

Status Report on GSLC Visioning Implementation Plan (use this space to share with council current status, accomplishments, new developments, or outstanding issues relevant to the goals your committee is tasked with as one of the champions)

 

            1)

 

            2)

 

            3)

 

Does your committee need assistance from the Long Range Planning Committee at this time to proceed with implementation of the GSLC Visioning Plan?

 

Date submitted:  21 Sept 05

Council Liaison:  Bob Larson

 

 

Volunteer Coordinator’s Report to GSC Council

September 14, 2005

 

 

Activities Completed:

      1) Two demonstrations for kitchen sanitizer completed.  Two more scheduled for

      Sept.

2)      Contact all Sat. Altar Guild worship volunteers to discuss additional responsibilities because of Pastor Chris leaving

3)      Find Altar Guild volunteers for Sat. worship service on 4th and 5th weeks of the month.  One of these slots is open because of Jo Brekke leaving.

4)      Inform leaders of Time and Talent results

5)      Find a person to be responsible for the cleaning solutions used by the kitchen sanitizer.  Ellen Herder has agreed to be responsible and purchase more solutions.

6)      Notify congregation that we expect members who use the nursery to also help in the nursery during worship services.  Personnel decided we are unable to hire a nursery attendant at this time. 

7)      Assisted Mark by calling volunteers to help with Starlights program.

 

 

 

Activities in Progress:

 

1)      Continue to plan more training sessions for volunteers to use sanitizer for communion cups washing.

2)      Find Altar Guild volunteers for Sat. worship service on 2nd week of the month. 

3)      Fill open spots in Sept. – Nov. worship assistant schedules – we have 3 volunteers to cover the 10:45 service as sound operators

4)      Find volunteers to fill open spots in the nursery (10:45) for the next few months.

5)      Continue to train temporary secretary regarding volunteers.

 

 

 

Vicky Mulvihill

Volunteer Coordinator

Good Shepherd Church