IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
COUNCIL MEETING
Minutes
November 1, 2004

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Gathering

John called the meeting to order @ 7:10 p.m.  Dan (Management Committee) provided devotions.

Preparing

Jim Espie and Carmen Karkau provided a demonstration between the existing upright piano and Carmen’s grand piano.  There were questions regarding quality, price equivalency, matching funds, grants, lease with the option to buy, maintenance, etc., as well as the potential resale value of the old upright.  The Worship Committee will check into that area and bring back details once we get closer to kicking off fundraising activities. 

Review of Previous Council Minutes:

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Dan Landry:

TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 4, 2004 COUNCIL MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Treasurer's Report:

As month end was yesterday, no report is yet completed for October, 2004.

Committee Reports:

Health Ministries: No Council action required.  Depression screening was well received, and we are considering forming a depression support group.

Management: Council action required:

MOTION by Orv Erickson, SECONDED by Mike Proper:

TO TRANSFER THE FOLLOWING LINE ITEMS TO THE GENERAL FUND: AA DONATION OF $80.00, LENT GIVINGS OF $150.00, GRAND LEDGE POM PON AMOUNT OF $50.00 AND MICHIGAN DYSLEXIA AMOUNT OF $50.00

 UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

We will use the December meeting to clean up other individual line items at year- end, and have requested that Management Committee make those recommendations.

Outreach: No Council action required.  Pastor Rick would like an Evangelism Program started in our community.  This appears to fit into the “small group ministry” arena.  If you know of someone who may bes interested, point him or her in the direction of this committee.

Parish Education: No Council action required.    The 4^th & 5^th grade program is going well, with approximately 15 kids (about ½ are non-members).  Additionally, the JAMmers program is also going well, with a lot of participation.

Property: No Council action required.  Fall cleanup went well – more than 30 individuals showed up.  It was noted that yesterday the church was left unlocked for about 4 hours due to an oversight by the last person to appropriately dislodge the locking mechanism on one of the doors.  Heath will make notes on how to avoid this in the future.

Stewardship: No Council action required.  They are working on Commitment Sunday/pledges – not just pledging money, but time and talent as well.   Mike suggested that we complete the Spiritual Gift Inventory at this time as well, as situations change from year to year.

Youth:  No Council action required.  Last meeting discussed lack of parental involvement with High School youth.  Additional conversations will follow regarding the need to have parent’s assist in encouraging participation.  A lot of discussion followed on “group building,” and generating excitement at the younger grades.

Worship: No Council action required, working on Hanging of the Greens & piano fundraising.

Memorial & Special Gifts: Council action required:

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Bill Paulins:

TO ALLOW THE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR OF IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH (DENISE LUND) TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAFE DEPOSIT BOX AT EATON FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK SO THAT SHE CAN ADD MEMORIAL GARDEN APPLICATIONS AS THEY ARE RECEIVED.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

Pastor Rick: No Council action required.   In his absence we reviewed his calendar, as well as the remarks that were included from the Pastoral Evaluations.  There were 43 respondents, and approximately 6 individuals present at the actual evaluation.  Overall, it was a positive experience for all involved.

Serving

Correspondence:

Heath Buckley discussed the Sound System Task Force that is currently in place.  On Monday, November 8, a schedule has been set for a representative from each committee to meet with this committee to answer some basic questions about their needs for the sound system.  These are scheduled in 15-minute increments.

Teresa had a member from the congregation request that we purchase a different brand of coffee (Fair Traders Coffee).  Teresa will follow-up with Mary Gehlhaar of the Kitchen Committee.

New Business:

Toddler Time has lost their sponsorship from Toys R Us, who was providing supplies (Outreach will gather info and potentially fill this void).  Additionally, John & Carol Weigel are joint sponsors along with George & Annette Ryan.  However, the Ryans leave the state in the winter, and John is experiencing some health issues.  We need to find another member(s) who is willing to be in attendance here on a weekly basis to allow the continuation of this program (which involves reading a story, doing an art/activity, and playing).  Dan & Mike have agreed to assist with sponsorship.

Discussion on attendance: it is really down.  We are at our lowest point in 6 years.  We discussed reviewing demographics in the area, our own review as far as who isn’t attending any more, the individuals who are leaving our congregation, are we not registering appropriately (due to the “books” instead of the communion/attendance cards)?  Perhaps this is a great opportunity for an individual or two to do some research and analysis, and Orv Erickson/Den Graeber will act as coordinators, with assistance from Denise Lund in generating the appropriate reports to initiate research. 

Fundraising/Program Priorities: Discussion on the amount of fundraisers that are currently being proposed.  We need to be very careful on priorities.  Currently the sound system and grand piano are both major activities, and we are probably going to consider a new position in the spring.  Does it make sense to pursue both of these at this time, what is our priority?  We need to think and pray about this, and determine our priorities.  We will make decisions on these items in the next few months.

Reference to church planning calendar for November and December 2004.  Management has Council devotions and announcements at the 10:30 service on communion Sundays and communion assistants for November, and Health Ministry has the same responsibilities in December.  Also a reminder that Committee Annual Reports are due at the end of the year.

The Annual Congregational Meeting is set for November 7, 2004 immediately following the 2^nd service, and the next regular Council Meeting is scheduled for December 6 at 7:00 p.m.

A reminder that the December Council meeting is an invitation to new committee members as well as regular committee members to attend, and we will bring treats!

MOTION by Mike Proper, SECONDED by Dan Landry

            TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Note: Copies of committee minutes and reports, as referred to in the Council Minutes, can be obtained in the church office.