Church Council Minutes

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Monthly Meeting of Church Council

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

The regular monthly meeting of the Church Council was held on Sunday, Au-gust 11, 2010 at 10:35 after worship. Present: Pastor Brandt, Chris Christen-son, Skip Lowe, Troy Johnson, Jim Roach and Linda Lowe. President Skip Lowe called the meeting to order and Pastor opened with prayer
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APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Minutes of the July 11th, 2010 regular monthly meeting were distrib-uted. There were no additions or corrections. Motion made by Chris Christen-son, seconded by Troy Johnson, to approve the minutes as printed. Motion carried.


REPORTS OF OFFICERS AND BOARDS
Treasurer’s Report: Chris Christenson. Written report at-tached. Motion made by Jim Roach and seconded by Pastor Brandt, to ap-prove the Treasurer’s Report as printed. Motion carried. Chris noted that cash flow has been good for July compared to other Julys in the past.


Board of Elders: Jim Roach
Saturday service had been discontinued due to lack of attendance
Thrivent seminar – August 22 for kids and parents
Sunday School , we have 11-12 families and 16-17 students
Research done on manpower in the congregation and found we have 52 males, 17% serving, 10% in retirement, 42% that are ac-tive and attend church and 31% don’t attend.
No movement on the Banners, stained glass, advent wreath and burial pall.
We will need to find a replacement organist for a time this fall and in January 2011. Pastor said he would help out with that.


Board of Trustees: Troy Johnson
Roof is done
Cross is in process of being fixed they are going to try to fix it them-selves.
Gutters are going to be fixed in October, Eric went with contractor in Newton
Some bids on damage came under and some over what adjusters esti-mated so they are figuring all of that out.


Board of Education: Pastor Brandt for the board
Need Sunday School teachers, are having 2 teachers at all times for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade class. Going to have 4 teachers total for those grades.


Board of Stewardship: Given by Skip Lowe for Susan Vos
Letter went out explaining the mission envelopes and the general fund so people don’t get them mixed up.


Board of Evangelism: Linda Lowe
Discussed the Sit before you Serve voted on today after worship.
Pie being served after worship Sunday
Shoes and Undies mission being re-promoted.
School project under way until Tuesday the 10th of August.
Working on budget for mission/evangelism board
Cookie Sunday was discussed if we should continue and if we should coordinate. It was decided that we should.


Board of Fellowship: Pastor Brandt for the board
Encouraging young families to engage in fellowship outside of wor-ship and church.


Immanuel Woman’s Organization: Starting up in the fall


Pastor’s Report: Pastor Brandt
Addressed the need for more male involvement is in process.
Sit before you serve
Confirmation instruction – Meeting with confirmation families.
New church secretary – Ryan C. Intlekofer good first week.
Thrivent Parents, Kids and money matters, August 22
Pictorial Directory – Photos on August 22nd and Sept. 12
The workplace can be a place of difficulties, tensions, conflicts, de-mands, lack of fulfillment, minimal or no appreciation. May we support our fellow members during tough times at work.
Thrivent Choice – Congregational Advocate Needed for Sept.
September calendar – circulated


UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None reported at this time


NEW BUSINESS
Ryan Intlekofer new secretary mentioned in Pastor’s report
Shop and Share at Thiesens Aug 15-21, 5% of sales goes back to church, we just need to turn in receipts.
LHS letter for mission was discussed. Nothing done at this time.
Next council meeting will be Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 6pm


ADJOURMENT: Motion was made by Troy Johnson and seconded by Jim Roach to adjourn the meeting and Pastor followed in prayer at 11:35am.


Linda Lowe recorded minutes sitting in for Barb Shell

September 2010 Calendar

Click here for the September 2010 Calendar

GREETERS

Sept. 5 Routier 

Sept. 12 Schmudlach

Sept. 19 Schoen

Sept. 26 Aaron Schultz

USHERS 

Sept. 5 Chris C./Richard H.

Sept. 12  Joel M./Randy C.

Sept. 19  Dale S./Tim B.

Sept. 26  Troy J./Ken M.

SERVERS 

Sept. 5   Susan V./Robin M. 

Sept. 12   Susan S.

Sept. 19   Jan M./Laurie H.

Sept. 26   Denise C.

ACOLYTES 

Sept. 5  Nick B.

Sept. 12   Rachael W

Sept. 19  Ty Johnson

Sept. 26 Alec Schultz

ELDER 

Keith Thorpe

CLEANING

Aug. 30– Sept. 4 Clark

Sept. 6-11 Cloyed

Sept. 20-25 Crosby/Ford

Sept.27– Oct. 2 vacant

Hi Ho, Hi Ho ... its Back to work we go.

Not just 7 dwarves but we all ought to sing about going to work.

In September we observe Labor Day, a legal holiday in honor of labor. The Bible deals with labor in a variety of ways. In Genesis 2:15 we read that “The Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (NIV) It was part of God’s plan of creation to make human beings for work and provide work for them.

Work is important for us. It is important enough that we often answer questions like who or what we are by referring to our work. We may answer in a num-ber of different ways like I’m a teacher, or a plumber, or a carpenter, or an office manager, or a business owner, or a pastor, or a doctor, or one of many other vocations. No wonder people get depressed when they are without jobs and meaningful work to do. Much of our self esteem is tied in closely with our work.

As God’s redeemed stewards we recognize that God has entrusted to us many things to manage and work with according to His will and plan. To not be willing to work and still expect to receive good things is like stealing. Ephesians 4:28 says, “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” (NIV)


Honest labor provides us with a sense of fulfillment and provides for our own needs and something extra to share with others who are in need. The book of Ecclesiastes includes a number of passages like 2:24; 3:12-13; 22; 5:18-20 that encourage us to find joy in our work. Work is a blessing from God and He gives us the time, talent and resources to do our work in a way that honors God and blesses others as well as our-selves. The words of Hebrews 13:20-21 affirm this truth: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (NIV)


So this September as many things like vacations are over and new things start up again—school, mission and ministry efforts in our con-gregations as well as other September activities—let’s remember that with the power of the Holy Spirit we can live and work as God’s re-deemed stewards who freely and joyfully manage all of life and life’s resources for His purposes. May we always be encouraged to give our very best when it comes to our financial gifts of love, our use of time and talents, and our willing service at home, in the workplace, in our communities and in our congregations.

The singing of ― Hi Ho, Hi Ho ...... its Back to work we go.‖ grows louder in September at Immanuel. LWML, Confirmation, Sunday School and more all resume. So, whether you are driving to a church meeting, getting on the bus to school, pulling into the workplace park-ing lot, or tossing dirty clothes in the washing machine. You should emulate the 7 dwarves. Recall Paul's word in 1 Corinthians 15:
58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Sit Before You Serve

On August 8th as Immanuel members sat and enjoyed a slice of pie, they selected the following two passages as guiding Scrip-tures for our service for 2011

Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:3-6

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always in every prayer of mine for you all

making my prayer with joy,

5 because of your partnership in the gospel

from the first day until now.

6 And I am sure of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Question: Where is God calling us as individuals and as a congregation to go and serve?

Answer: Congregation members chose as priorities:

• in our homes

• in our immediate neighborhoods

• in the Immanuel ministry area

What next???? A foundational statement summarizing the Scrip-ture passages is being written. This will be publicized. You, the congregation members, will be asked to sit, pray, ponder pick up pen and pencil and submit one sentence or a short mission goal statements or possible yearlong themes. (Perhaps “pie” will ac-company this!)

After that???? We will . . .

   look at need (while looking at God’s promise to provide)

   look at our resources  (while looking at God’s promises to enable)

   look at our abilities/talents  (and look at God’s promises to empower)

   look again to God’s Word

Ephesians 3: 20 Now to him who is able to do

far more abundantly than all that we ask or
think, according to the power at work within us,

21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus

throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.

Then What??? Specifics! You will be asked to suggest and set some specific mission goals, specific mission projects, specific mission tasks, and/or specific mission plans! Some of these specifics will be personal, some specifics will involve your household, some of the specifics will be for the entire congrega-tion, some specifics will involve money, some specifics won’t cost a cent. You will make some specific suggestions, won’t you?

We welcome, anticipate and ex-pect your prayers, suggestions, input, involvement, ownership and efforts as we living out are Chris-tian faith and lives and move for-ward God’s mission.