The Lutheran Church of the Prince of
Peace
A Church at the Crossroads Growing in Christ
Congregation
Meeting Minutes
January 10, 2010
President Dick Schmidt called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. Pastor Timmermann opened with devotion, hymn of praise and prayer.
Joanne Wolfgram moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes from the September 15, 2009 Congregation Meeting. Sharon Mueller seconded the motion, and the vote was passed unanimously.
Treasurer’s report - Keith Yahn
The Treasurer’s Report was discussed in great detail. A copy is attached.
Larry Zuelke moved to accept the report, John Mueller seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Board of Stewardship – Bill Arps
The “Excel in the Grace of Giving” had a 43% response. This includes 95 with pledges and 124 with no commitment. The amount of money pledged is $163,419.00 which is about 70% of this year’s budget.
The General Fund has $1132.56 in the plus for 2009.
Ken Wiesner moved to accept the report, Neal Sanders seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Joyce Nasternak will be the Financial Secretary again. Any questions about your financial statements would go to her.
Board of Missions – Joanne Wolfgram
Thanks to all who
contributed to the Mitten Tree drive. We shipped four boxes of warm accessories
to the Bakers in
Benevolences for
2010 were listed in the January Messenger. For January we will be emphasizing
Suggested items to be donated for the F.A.C.T. Pantry will be listed each month in the Messenger, in worship folders for each weekend, and on the dry-erase board in the entry hall. Other non-perishables are also appreciated.
In 2010, the Board of Missions wants to continue providing a meal once a month at Refuge House, a home for young women in a crisis pregnancy. This home is in a safe area a few miles east of church. In order to make this mission project successful, we need members of the congregation to participate. This in an activity you can help with if you are interested in doing something just occasionally. You can sign up on the kiosk in the narthex to help by making a main dish or salad and dessert. Particular dates are listed for you to choose from. A member of the Board of Missions will always be with you, and we will all eat with the residents of Refuge House. If you have any questions about this program, please see me or any member of the Board.
Board of Church Properties – John Mueller
The pergola structure was installed just before advent which allowed us to use it for the first time for the Nativity scene.
The garage storage shed is on hold. That project will be restarted in spring.
We are in the process of having all boards check and clean out their respective files. Files will be moved around, relocated and replaced.
A new copier has been leased. The copier prints color and black and white, folds, staples and does many other things that we may have a need for in the future. Although it may look intimidating it is very user friendly.
The insurance policy has been revised for the coming year and was fine-tuned to fit our congregation’s needs.
Currently our major
concern is keeping the driveways and sidewalks free of ice and snow. We have a
great snow plowing company and willing volunteers.
Board of Education – Paul Tindall in place of Jan Tindall
Our Birthday Party for Jesus was held on December 19th and the Christmas Program was held in worship on Decenber 20th. The Board is thankful to God for all of the time and effort that the Sunday School staff poured into both events.
January brings us to Sunday School training on the 17th. That day the Board will review all of our assignments, as well. We hope to also add a new board member soon.
Our Action Plan for January includes planning and staffing VBS 2010. We pray that God will bless this outreach effort.
Board of Young People’s Work – Rose Bayer
The youth group has been very active over
the last few months. In October 2009, we
raked a fellow member’s yard and disposed of all the yard waste. We returned back to church, had lunch, and
made eight apple pies and took them to shut ins, the
widowed or widowers, and fellow members. In November, the youth participated in
the late service. We also planned an
outing for all their hard work.
December, we served a coffee fellowship, and had active roles in the
Christmas Sunday School program. The
youth also enjoyed a fun afternoon of laser tag.
February 14, 2010, the youth will
participate in the early service. The
youth lock-in is being planned for April 23rd and 24th.
If you know of any service projects that the
youth can help out with, please let one of the Board of Young People’s work
know. The next Board meeting is January 11, 2010.
Board of Evangelism –Betty Dahm
In September we hosted the Dinky Little Cogs workshop led by Pastor Feiertag. We had 41 attend some coming as far away as Sun Prairie. We feel it was very successful. We sent a survey out and received positive feedback.
We had a new member reception on November 29 for the 17 new members.
We helped Church Properties serve Advent supper on December 9th.
We continue contacting visitors to our church.
Board of Lay Ministry – Bob Mathison
We continue to review attendance, delinquents, membership applications for transfers in/out, and geographical relocations.
We were kept busy with anniversary celebrations for Timmermann and Garcia and honoring Lois Brauer for her long and dedicated service to Prince of Peace.
Gayle Paccagnella was added as a part time-secretary to our office staff.
I would like to express the congregation’s appreciation to Pastor Norm for his refreshing and inspiring Advent and Christmas services.
Board of Fellowship – Sharon Mueller
Thanks to all the boards that served “Simple Suppers.” They were all well-attended, even the night we had 10 inches of snow that morning. All the food was great.
Fellowship provides refreshments for tree trimming and Epiphany. We were disappointed that only 12 people attended Epiphany service.
Socialize for Six signup sheet for the next session is up. This session will run from Feb through May. It is the blue signup sheet on the kiosk. Signup deadline is January 24th. See me with any questions.
We provided the chili lunch today, helped by the Women’s Guild with the desserts. We hoped to attract more people to the meeting.
Our next project will be to coordinate the Lent Simple Suppers. The dates are February 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17 and 24. Board chairman; look for my information on dates in your mailbox soon. Please volunteer.
After Church Coffees signup is on the kiosk for 2010. Please signup either with someone or alone. We will be sure someone works with you. You’ll never serve alone. It’s fun, easy and everyone enjoys the socialization.
Pastor’s Report – Pastor Timmermann
The attached sheet shows data on Official Acts for 2009 and Membership Changes for 2009.
Major structural changes are being encouraged by the “Blue Ribbon Task Force on Structure” within the Synod. The changes are primarily to make the structure of groups more responsive to congregations. This is the primary business that will be discussed/decided at this year’s convention. Any changes approved will need to be approved by the congregational vote at a later date.
Offerings and stewardship are down considerably throughout Synod and congregations this past year. This mirrors the financial issue experienced throughout the country. Thank the Lord that this is really not the issue here at PoP. Our offerings, although in a slight decline (will need to see actual numbers from other reports) are not of any dramatic nature. Synod, District, and many congregations have taken drastic steps to reduce expenditures- including reducing or elimination mission giving. I believe that this is in good part because we have been doing very good stewardship education at PoP. We do not tie our stewardship emphasis to the proposed budget. We encourage stewardship as a response to the Lord’s love for us rather than as how much is needed to meet budget. We also model stewardship within the congregation by giving a tithe or nearly tithe of our offerings receipts for missions. If we look at all of the offerings used our side the congregation we are well over a tithe. Thanks to all of us here at Prince of Peace who live out our faith in this way also.
Many of you know that we now have two secretaries in the church office. Marlin Brandt continues in that position. However, now the time is shared between Marlyn and Gayle Paccagnella. This has been working wonderfully for the two of them and also for PoP, as we now will much more easily be able to deal with vacation, illness, and time off in the church office.
As noted in the
Messenger we will be receiving a one semester Lay Ministry intern from
Isn’t it great that we not only support mission on a positive level of giving, but also have connections with a broader mission outreach through Together in Mission (TIM) [David and Rachel Baker in Kazakstan], our monthly benevolences and also now with two of our Concordia University Professors.
Professor Tom Feiertag,
who teaches Missions and his present
Professor Al Garcia and his Cuban Lutheran Outreach.
God has graciously given us vision and opportunity to be a part of his world-wide efforts.
Last year we had all 5 of the Pastors of our congregation preaching for our midweek Lent and this year we will have all 6.
Comment from Neal Sanders: As Pastor mentioned the Synod offerings are down, Neal pointed out that on line 80-1 of our Financial Statement shows that PoP met the total amount pledged for 2009. He stated that PoP has met the goal for as long as he could remember. Pastor stated it is a positive and healthy sign for our congregation.
Endowment Committee
The Endowment Committee has been meeting and discussing the Pape estate funds.
Motions:
1. Paul Tindel moved that the funds received from the Pape estate be gratefully accepted, and that:
a) The scholarship and tuition reimbursement funds be renamed as “The Robert and Cordelia Pape Christian Scholarship Fund.”
b) That $25,000.00 from the Pape estate be reserved in the above scholarship fund, being divided equally between the scholarship and tuition reimbursement accounts.
· Dick Schmidt explained that the endowment fund is not used for normal operating expenses unless it’s approved to do that. The committee thought it would be good to put a portion of that money into a scholarship and tuition account now and name it after the Pape’s. The scholarship would be used for people studying church work, and the tuition to reimburse parochial school tuition.
The motion was called, Neal Sanders seconded and the vote was unanimous.
2. That the primary investment for the Pape bequest and other endowments be the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Foundation, with specific investments and used of funds reported regularly to the congregation.
· Dick Schmidt explained that the wording of “other endowments” was the $6,000.00 that was already in the endowment fund. The committee talked to 4 different investors and everyone chose this foundation. This Tuesday the committee will meet with two different people from the foundation. One is an investment advisor who will discuss investment alternatives. The second will discuss how to promote the endowment fund. The committee will come back and inform the congregation of any investments and get approval for expenditures. We have to make sure that this kind of gift does not make us rest on our laurels as far as our responsibilities. Pastor commented that the full extent of the Pape estate has not been received yet.
The motion was called and Bob Mathison seconded. The vote was unanimous.
3. That the approved motion of May 13, 2008 designating an ongoing 50% transfer of the Cell Tower funds to the Endowment Fund be suspended in light of the Pape bequest.
· The motion of May 13, 2008 minutes were read by Dick Schmidt and he explained that he used the wording of suspended rather than rescinded because the philosophy and idea was good and could be reinstated later.
· Neal Sanders opposed the vote and commented we get $23,383.00 every March from the cell tower. We just heard from the Stewardship Board that we made the budget. Why do we need $23,000.00. We still have $11,000.00 and should be setting the example like the Pape estate to invest this money. Our goal is to grow the endowment fund.
· John Mueller commented that at the time of the original vote, there were no funds going into the Endowment Fund. We voted to increase that Fund and with the Pape estate this has now been done.
· Steve Roloff commented that as a former Treasurer, the past couple years we were spending more than we received, in totality. He felt he would be against the original motion because we keep spending more than we take in. If you talk about specified receipts, we are ahead. Totality has gone down. If you look at 2009 Financial Report, attachment C, the past couple years the total has gone down.
The motion was called and Steve Roloff seconded. The vote motion passed.
Christmas Committee Report 2009 -Janet McCarthy
Thank you to all who helped put up the outdoor Christmas decorations and who decorated the church and our Christmas tree. It is so nice to report how well all this gets done. We had some faithful people be unable to decorate the church, so God provided us with some new people who really pitched in and as usual made our work easier so we could enjoy the social after all was done. The best part is to enjoy the tree and lights when we are done.
Undecorating was done on Epiphany. We also had some new people join us for that. Thank you to the piano player who played some very familiar carols for us. It was a wonderful ending to the Christmas season.
Now we would like to thank the Santa who every year pays for our Christmas tree. I am still working on finding out who that that kind person is.
John Mueller asked if we could decorate the sanctuary at the beginning of Advent rather than so late. This will be discussed further at the next PPC meeting.
New Business
Budget 2009 -Bill Arps
Attached is the Budget 2010 Request spread sheet.
Details were discussed and Neal Sanders motioned to accept this as presented. Ken Wiesner seconded and the vote was unanimous.
Amendment to By-laws and Constitution – Dick Schmidt
Proposed Amendments were discussed as attached. Constitution amendments will continue to require ¾ approval. By laws changes will require 2/3 majority. The Stewardship Director may now sign check in absence of the Treasurer.
This was voted on and passed unanimously.
Other
Ken Wiesner thanked the congregation for the contribution of golf clubs and materials. The 105th calvery had a small golf course over there.
Dick Schmidt stated that the next PPC meeting will be held on Feb 9th, 2010.
Dick Schmidt adjourned the meeting at 1:30
Pastor Timmermann closed with a prayer.
Respectfully
submitted,
Gayle Paccagnella
Recording
Secretary
