One of the things I enjoy most about my job here at Good Shepherd is that I am constantly learning. I am always being stretched and pushed to explore new areas - there is rarely a dull moment. Lately I have been learning about the great importance of people who are not named Mark Hannan...

A youth program is only as good as its volunteers, and Good Shepherd has some incredible ones. We could use more though. As Good Shepherd grows and our youth program expands it becomes increasingly more important that faith-filled, caring adults step forward and reach out to our young people. These volunteers, more than any youth director or staff person, will be the people who make Good Shepherd a place that feels safe and accepting to our youth - a place that will nurture, encourage, and instill in them an experience of God.

One of the biggest joys of this year has been seeing our students use the new youth room. It is home to Youth Group on Wednesday nights and provides our Confirmed High School Students with a place to meet on Sunday mornings (something they’ve never had before). The new room has also been a highlight to our 7^th and 8^th Grade Confirmation students who enjoy the room for half an hour of fellowship before each Confirmation class starts. In addition to being the perfect place for events like First Fridays (middle school youth group), College-aged get-togethers, and M & M (our summer middle school program) it also has been a very palpable sign for our youth that our church values them. It’s not everyday that you hear an 8^th grader say, “We have the best church ever!” without a hint of sarcasm.

In March we will see the start of our 2^nd year of the Faith Mentorship Program. The Youth Committee pioneered this program last year as a way of connecting our young people with more caring adults in a faith-based relationship. We paired our 9^th graders up, one on one, with an adult from our congregation for Lent. It was a great success! The Faith Mentor and their 9^th grader met for the 6 weeks of Lent getting to know each other and going through a discussion sheet that provided a good starting place for talking about faith and life. Many pairs then went to the Wednesday Lent services together.

In closing I would like to address an action item request. More than two years ago good work towards a Safehaven Policy was begun by the Church In Society Committee. This policy, which was left unimplemented and all but finished, would apply guidelines and safety training for volunteers that work with youth and vulnerable adults. Because this policy would encompass so many different areas of the church (education, personnel, youth, etc.) the Youth Committee requests that the church council form a task force to complete and implement this policy. It is the committee’s opinion that Good Shepherd can no longer wait to put a policy of this type into practice.

Mark J. Hannan

Volunteer Coordinator’s Report to GSC Council

January 12, 2006

Activities Completed:

1) Arrange volunteers for Christmas Eve worship services

Activities in Progress:

1) Assist Call Committee in gathering information for Congregational Profile

2) Research Equipping church Guidebook

3) Confirmation students – gather sheets with interests

Vicky Mulvihill

Volunteer Coordinator

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

CHURCH IN SOCIETY

JANUARY 09, 2006

1. IHN: We have 3 active families this week, as this is GSC host week.

2. GIVING TREE: went well for the Christmas Season

3. GLOBAL OUTREACH: We plan to have a hunger event, hopefully during Lent. Betty Lund will make connections with the group involved with the solor ovens and try to have one available for us to see. Cost is about $100/oven. Maybe we could gather some funds to help provide one or more to needed families in third world countries.

4. CALL COMMITTEE REQUEST: Nothing to suggest here except to keep up what we are doing for now.

5. CHANGE FOR CHANGE: Goes to Community Food Response for the month of Jan.

6. UP COMING EVENTS: Ronald McDonald House Valentine Day Drive for supplies. There will be hearts on the giving tree for this event in which families can take and fill with the items requested and I am sure a few of your own ideas will be fine as well. Return to the church at the assigned date for delivery to the house on Valentines Day.

7. PASTOR TOM REQUEST: It was brought to our attention that during Christmas there were several calls/day about families needing funds and or items for Christmas gifts for the children. Pastor Tom thought it might be a good idea to have some generic gift for children and some food items available for these occasions as some of the calls were right up to the holiday. We also thought that having a list of folks who may be willing to help out in theses situations may be helpful also.

Respectfully submitted in Christ: Val Jorgensen

Fellowship Committee

Next Meeting Date: February 1st

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

Recap of Past Events – What went well; what can we improve on

No events to recap in December

Upcoming Events- What do we need to plan??

Family Retreat at GEV: January 27-29 – Janis is making registration forms to be put out before this weekend. Talked a little about the agenda for the weekend. Should remain pretty laid back with a variety of choices. Talk to Dave Herder about someone to play music in the evening.

Game Night: Saturday, January 14^th – After 5:30 service. Pizza and Games. Has been put in the Happynings and the bulletin. Paul and Janis to pick up Pizzas. Call Jacob Brown and see if he would like to help out with younger kids games. Michelle to bring scrabble. Paul and Janis to bring other games. Paul will talk to Bob Larson about helping out with the evening.

Sledding at Ironwood Springs: Paul will handle setting a date

Potluck in February: Saturday night February 25^thafter 5:30 service. Ethnic dishes

Items to Publicize: Winter Retreat

Game Night Later in Month

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

None

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)

N/A

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: January 6, 2006 Council Liaison: Paul Evers

Finance Committee

Next Meeting:

Date: 2/13/06

Time: 7 pm

Present: Joleen Mainz, Tim Olson, Michele Saack, Doug Tollefson, Pastor Tom Hanson

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

1) 2005 financial summary - Michele presented a preliminary 2005 year-end financial summary. Expenses exceeded income by approximately $21,500. Despite a significant shortfall, all expenses/bills were paid by utilizing undesignated savings.

2) Giving in 2006 – Giving was down in the second half of 2005. While we were able to meet our financial obligations in 2005, giving must improve in 2006 to meet our budget and sustain our mission. We will continue to post a financial summary in the newsletter and highlight our financial status at the annual meeting in February.

3) ELCA Mission Investment certificates – Two $100,000 certificates, for 1-year and 2-year terms, were taken out in July 2005 to increase interest on savings. These certificates represent the majority of the balance in the building fund, which was $222,423 as of 11/30/05. When their terms are complete, we may need to decrease the amounts and/or terms of subsequent certificates to ensure sufficient liquid savings.

4) Congregational Profile –The call committee was provided assistance in drafting the stewardship/financial components for the Congregational Profile document in preparation for the call process.

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

None.

Date submitted: 1/11/06 (meeting held on 1/9/05 at 7 p.m.)

Council Liaison: Tim Olson

Technology Committee Report

Next Meeting:

Date: 02.14.06 Time: 7:30pm

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

Members able to attend – Mark Manges, Eric Winter, Paul Willemsen, Lori Gartner

1) Meet with Mark Hagen. Mark runs/manages the Zumbro Lutheran sound system and

is willing to comment on GSC setup. Mark H needs to be contacted again to reschedule a meeting day.

Further discussion concluded a separate committee should be considered to evaluate GSC sound system and make any recommendations. Those on the tech committee really don’t feel qualified to adequately do the homework. GSC members will be solicited for interest.

2) Anti-virus software … machines current (individual) licenses are expiring and needs to be renewed. A 5 package license would save some money … which product?

Eric Winter is looking into AVG antivirus software.

3) Next years meeting night … some members have Wed night conflicts. The second Tues of each month seem to work for everyone. We’ll give that a try.

4) Mark Hannan mentioned a need for an additional DVD player. The committee took a look at the TVs and stands in the church. Currently, there are three TVs on rolling stands today and one already has a DVD player. Another DVD player can be added to the mix. We were wondering if youth room funds remain to make the purchase (approx $50) … Manges will check with Mark H.

5) New ‘teller’ machine setup is complete for the tellers … we need Vicky M to verify the new machine is ready for her volunteer work.

6) General discussion

7) This is my last tech committee report as I’m rolling of the GSC council … my 3 year term has ended.

Agenda Items Requiring Assistance from Council

1) none

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: 01.16.06

Council Liaison: Mark Manges

Worship Committee Report 01/09/2006

Present: George Price, Mary Jones, Brenda Booth, Cynthia McLaren, Pastor Tom Hanson,

Bruce Larson

Next Meeting:

Date: 02/13/06 Time: 5:30 p.m.

General Agenda Items

1) Worship Times for Lent and Easter –

· Ash Wednesday (03/01/06) service and Wednesday Lent Services - 7:00 p.m.

· Palm Sunday (04/09/06) - regular services (8:15, 10:45 a.m.)

· Maundy Thursday (04/13/06) – service at 7:00 p.m.

· Good Friday (04/14/06) - service at 7:00 p.m.

· Easter Vigil (Saturday, 04/15/06) – 9:30 p.m. with no regular 5:30 p.m. service

· Easter Sunday (04/16/06) – 8:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

More discussion of Holy Week services at February meeting.

2) Piano Bench – Due to holidays, no update on this item. Cynthia and Bruce will purchase bench from a local music store with money in memorial fund.

3) Chalices – Mary Jones contacted chalice maker, who will be firing new chalices this week. Mary will be in contact with her on the process.

4) Christmas Services –

· Champagne flutes for candlelight services worked very well, catching the candle wax. Will purchase 200 more for future use.

· Attendance at 9:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service was approximately 60 individuals; due to low attendance, this service may not be held in the future.

· 2006 Christmas Day will fall on a Monday, with Christmas Eve Sunday evening. Suggest having one Sunday morning service, and two regular Christmas Eve services. More discussion in the fall.

5) New Lutheran Book of Worship (Renewing Worship) – Worship Committee discussed how to introduce the new book to the congregation. (Some of the new liturgy has been used in services already.) More liturgy will be used during Lent. This committee needs to determine when new books should be ordered and the number needed. If ordered by 10/06/2006, will receive 12% discount from publisher.

6) Communion Wine & Bread – Pastor Tom suggested the wine remaining after each service be poured into the earth and not down the drain. (Create a dry well outside for wine to be poured into.) Remaining bread should be taken home and used or given to the birds, as the bread and wine represent the true body and blood of Jesus Christ. Further discussion at February meeting.

7) Altar Guild – Discussed forming a new Altar Guild committee, who would oversee Ushers, Altar Guild, Baptismal Font, banners, etc. This idea should be discussed with the congregation and will be asking for input/feedback from them. More discussion at February meeting.

8) Bulletins – Discussed full order of service printed in bulletin, as currently being done. (Families with small children have difficulty holding books and child at same time.)

Agenda Items Needing Assistance from Council

1) None at this time

Council Liaison: George Price

Date Submitted: 01/16/2006