Peace Lutheran Council Minutes for December 9

							Peace Lutheran Council Minutes for December 9, 2010

Members present: Pat Steele, Alison Lounsbery, James Johnson, Jarett Sievers,
Maggie Schmidt, Bryan Seaver, Doug Berkland, Cara Hetland, Bryan Schierholz, Dawn
Phelps, Mike Brownfield, Becky Keen, Pastor Paul, Pastor, Rolf, Pastor Obed, Pastor
Ann

Staff Representative: Jason Andera

Members absent: Jeff Herreid, Jennifer Kline, Vicky Orth

Meeting Called to Order by President Doug Berkland

Devotions by Bryan Schierholz

Bible Study Philippians 3:1-12

Minutes from November 11, 2010 meeting approved

Treasurer’s Report approved
There were 5 Sundays in November 2009 and 4 Sundays in November 2010
    Total receipts for October were $90,588.82 which was $1,928.14 less than our budgeted amount
       for the month (97.9%). We fell under the 5 year history mark for the month as well as below last
       year’s mark.
    Our YTD budget is short $124,711.11 and 87.7% of the approved budget (gained 1% from last
       month). This time last year we were at ~92% of our budget. Our receipts are down $31,541.10
       for the year.
    For the month, our receipts plus offsetting income was $6,760.58 more than expenses and for the
       year we are short $45,148.04.
    Our monthly average giving per Sunday was $18,117.76 which is $102.55 more per Sunday than
       in 2009. For the year our average Sunday giving is $18,603.66, which is down $657.11 from last
       year.
    Our monthly mortgage fund offering (including Capital Campaign gifts and matching gifts) was
       less than incurred expenses. The monthly balance was ($6,966.45) and the YTD balance is
       $51,383.08.

Ministry Team Reports
Adult Forum - Pat Steele

During the month of December, we will be doing a Bible study produced by Crossways Int’l entitled,
“Christmas: The Real Story.” This study takes a look at scripture, Western assumptions and Middle
Eastern customs and culture to find the true story of the birth of Jesus. The fourth session, “God’s New
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Kingdom” will be done on January 8 . Then in January, we will be featuring ministry updates from
Children’s Ministry, Youth/Confirmation Ministry and Faith and Family.

Building and Property - Jeff Herreid
Childcare/Chidren’s Ministry - Alison Lounsbery

 Christmas Program practices are in full swing! There are a little over 150 people (kids and adults) in
  the actual scenes. First practice was on Sunday. The actual program will be held on Sunday,
  December 19 at 3:00 pm. All Sunday/Wednesday school children are invited to join in for the final
  song of the program, “Go, Tell It on the Mountain”
 We have decided to take 2 -5 graders to Shetek Lutheran Ministries for camp this summer. We will
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  go the week of July 24. Postcards were sent to families this week to invite them to consider camp as a
  possible Christmas gift for their child.
 We are excited to partner with Confirmation Ministries to offer a Christmas Family Game Night on
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  Wednesday, December 15 . A variety of games will be offered throughout the building in lieu of
  Wednesday School and confirmation that evening from 6:00 to 7:00 pm
 Christmas Break for Sunday/Wednesday school begins on Wed, Dec 22 and goes through Sunday,
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  January 2 . We’ll resume on Wednesday, January 5.
 Renae has been talking with the Program Director at Shetek about possibly providing staff and a
  program for Good Friday Day Camp. They would come in to provide a program for up to approximately
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  70 school-age children (Kindergarten through 5 graders) from 9 am to 3 pm that day. Approximately
  7 volunteers would be needed to assist from Peace. Approximate cost would be $5 to $10 per child.
 We’ve seen a surge in Sunday school attendance as we get closer to Christmas. Classrooms are full!!
  We have a total of 576 children enrolled in Sunday and Wednesday school right now (ages 2 through
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  5 grade).


Deaf Ministry - James Johnson

November INFO

Average deaf attendance:

2010 – 6.5 / Service

2009 – 7.8 / Service

Income

Donations: November 2010 - $ 948.50 in individual and congregational donations.

Expenses Nov $3,412.36

November Overview

Children’s Education – The Parent Net “Pizza Pizzazz” event was a success again. We didn’t have any
deaf or CODA kids show up but we did have a deaf volunteer. The theme was Thanksgiving and Advent.

Advent Services- The Advent services will be interpreted, please come every Wednesday at 7:05
before Christmas

Synod Council – The synod council continues to meet, Jason has been involved, it looks like HEM will
be one of the few ministries not affected next year in the budget. Good news.

Bible Study– The newest Bible study is about “Miracles of Jesus”. We started the study and had a good
discussion. We have this Bible study on the first and third Sundays at 10:10am. We did Jesus feeding of
the 5,000
Board Meeting– The board met to plan service projects, approve the budget and set goals for next year.

ASL Classes Begin– ASL Classes continue every Monday night.

December - February Preview and Goals:

       Sarah will be planning for the January Children’s Education event.
       Display in arboretum- HEM is planning to put a visual display of awards and awareness for Deaf
        ministry outside the kitchen area. We’ll be designing this and working on it soon.
       January Annual meeting Board meeting date TBA
    
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        Kids against hunger service project on December 12 at 3pm
       December Christmas Worship will be at 3:30pm
       Continue planning Midwest Retreat for 2011
       Ideas for a deaf bowling event soon
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        Wrapping Christmas presents for the congregation on December 19


Endowment Team – Jenifer Kline

Faith and Family – Vickie Orth

 80 fourth and fifth graders celebrated their First Communion in November. We had 3-hour family
  retreats to prepare children and families for this important milestone. During this time the families
  talked with a pastor about this sacrament, baked wafers, and painted chalices that they used for their
  first communion.
 Senior Quilts are going VERY well. 37 Seniors have chosen to participate. Tie dates are tentatively set
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  for January 22 and March 12 (both Saturdays).
 We would like to offer a Senior Banquet this year the same weekend that senior quilts are distributed.
 Anniversary of Baptism milestone will be celebrated the weekend of January 8/9 and on Wednesday,
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  the 12 . Parents who have had children baptized in 2010 will be invited to join in a special mark of
  their first anniversary during all worship services.
 First Communion will be held this spring for 2 /3 graders on Maundy Thursday, April 21 .
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 Blessing of the Car keys will be held on Saturday, April 30 .
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Hospitality and Fellowship – Jarett Sievers
An adult coed volleyball team is being formed at Peace Lutheran by Jason Andera. Players must be at
least 18 years of age and not be attending high school. Games will be played on Sunday afternoons or
evenings beginning on January 2, 2011 and will continue through early March. The Peace Lutheran team
will be participating in a recreational league, so all skill levels are welcome. Men or women interested in
playing should contact Jason at the church office or Jarett Sievers by phone at 605-553-0219 or by e-mail
at jaretdsievers@gmail.com.

Global Missions – Maggie Schmidt

A gift of support was given to Susanne Nelson for her mission trip to Palestine. The net proceeds from
the breakfast served at the church in October was over $875.00.

Health and Wellness – Bryan Seaver

Management – Jenifer Kline
Staff Support – Doug Berkland and Cara Hetland

Stewardship – Doug Berkland

Technology – Bryan Schierholz

Social Action – Cara Hetland

Our Necessities for Neighbors ministry continues to go well. Our December distribution saw lower
numbers of families. This is likely due to cold weather, but also because of the new registration system
we are implementing (requiring proof of address and insisting that a household can only go through the
distribution line once). Even though we served fewer households, many new household came to the
December distribution. Lately the ministry has been overwhelmed with donations from churches and
other organizations. Most recently we received a significant donation of items from Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans. As we move into 2011, our Necessities distribution will change times to 3:00pm (instead of
1:00). We are also looking forward in 2011 to partnering with other area churches to grow this ministry
even more.

Brian’s Team is still exploring ways to cooperate with the Sioux Falls re-entry center. Very little news on
this front this month, but we hope to move forward with this collaboration in early 2011.

United Women of Peace – Dawn Phelps

Worship – Mike Brownfield

Youth Advisory – Becky Keen

Confirmation Ministry

To summarize the service projects done in November, sixth and seventh graders made over 240 holiday
cards for the VA and for a SD unit serving in Afghanistan. They also made over 300 goody packets to be
handed out to the kids who come to the December Necessities for Neighbors distribution. Eighth graders
completed cleaning projects around the church. This month, ninth graders will serve at either the
Banquet or will pack meals at Kids Against Hunger. We have full crews with kids and parents for both of
these activities.

Sixth and seventh graders are continuing their study of the New Testament. Eighth graders are studying
the seasons of the church year, and will finish by making sample banners for some of these seasons.
 Ninth graders did a summary of the unit they’ve been studying – Materialism, Media and Faith.

All students and their families are invited to the Christmas Family Game Night on December 15th, a joint
venture with Children’s Ministry. This activity will have options for all ages, including a game show, active
games, dress up games and a craft making a game.

Due to some conflicts in schedules, Peer Ministry will now launch in January. Five students have
committed to begin meeting, and a few others have expressed an interest.
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In November, our 10 graders had their first one-on-one meetings with their mentors as part of the
Confirmand Mentor Connection. Each month, these student/mentor pairs are to meet for about an hour
to talk about living out their faith in various aspects of their lives, like home, school, work, with family and
with friends. They can either meet at church during the Coffee House time set up in the evening of each
third Sunday, or they can meet in a public place at a place/time that works with their schedules. The goal
for these conversations is to continue to keep faith an important part of their daily lives, and to meet and
get to know another caring adult.

And last, I am part of an Exemplary Youth Ministry task force that has formed to help bring inexpensive
training and learning opportunities to youth workers here in the South Dakota Synod. Two upcoming
training events include a Mental Health First Aid Workshop the end of January, a 12-hour workshop for
those who work with youth (staff and volunteers) on topics like suicide, cutting, depression, eating
disorders, etc. The second is an Exemplary Youth Ministry Webinar in February, put on by staff from
Luther Seminary. Both will be great learning opportunities for pastors, staff and volunteers who work with
youth.

Youth Ministry:

A few thing going on with youth: Camp registration is going on for the 6th- 8th graders for Outlaw Ranch.
The mission trip to Pine Ridge is full and our first planning meeting is coming up right after the holidays.
High School youth group keeps growing in numbers and the Durfee family has become a key adult
support for the group.
Middle school youth nights continue with varied numbers but the Wednesday afternoon youth group is still
the most successful event :)
We will be planning an event with Our Saviors for the High school youth in the near future...plans pending
with Brent at that end. Promotion for the Faith Fest is starting for the middle schoolers.


Pastor’s Report:

Pastor Ann: Shared a Thank you from a Necessity for Neighbor recipient.

Pastor Obed: Busy with hospital visits, Blue Christmas service coming. Sent letters to
90 people he knows of who lost a family member. Thank you for supporting Suzanne

Pastor Rolf : Busy with Advent services and planning Christmas worship

Pastor Paul: Reviewed Staff Changes. Jen Hora is taking over visitor coordinator
duties from Pat Steele. Justin Ehrman is stepping down from custodial duties. Mike
Johnson is taking over from Justin and also for Carl Meyerhoff. Jen Hora is passing off
duties for Wednesday Meal preparation to Pharah Jongeling. There is also a wedding
coordinator position open.

Old Business:
Conversation about how it’s working with Jay who is working remotely. Pastor Paul will
discuss individually with staff
Scrips Program – Pastor Paul is meeting with staff and committee members and the
company. Searching for a volunteer as system coordinator. Preschool and Daycare
parents can use the program as a tuition rebate. One percent will go to the church. Will
work on promoting to general congregation. All profits go to church. The committee
includes Bryan Schierholz, Alison Lounsbery, and Bill Furgeson.
Motion/Second to approve the Scrips program. Money raised will be designated by
council every quarter along with opening Preschool and Daycare for it to use as tuition
reduction program. Motion passed.

Long Range Planning – something we do every four years. Peace has the opportunity
to join with five other congregations to participate in the vibrant faith ministries program
the second week in February. Cost for Peace is $1500 for two years. Decision was
tabled until the budget discussion.

Snow Removal – our free snow removal is ending after this winter. We need to budget
$2-5,000 for the first half of next winter to clear the parking lot. (Decision tabled until
budget discussion)

Bus/Van for Augustana Lutheran: council agreed we cannot purchase the bus but it
was decided to send a letter to all of the congregations in Sioux Falls to ask for
assistance. We will check with Thrivent to see if there are matching funds available.

Special Guest: Dan Haugrud addressed the council to discuss funding Marty’s Mug.
Marty’s Mug is a new group for young adults. They meet every other week and the
group is made up of young people from all ELCA churches in the region. The group
wants to hire a coordinator and is asking each congregation to help fund the position.
The formula is $3.75/active member. Peace’s share is $4,125 for the year. (decision
tabled until budget discussion).

The Budget:
Discussion about the budget and how to better communicate with the congregation.
Discussion about cutting 15% out of budget and what that would look like.
Discussion about the need for a growth budget.
Presented a budget proposal with a cut of 1.32% ($14,940.35)
Motion passed to include $4,125 for Marty’s Mug in budget under benevolences
Motion passed to include $1,500 for long range planning in 2011 and $1500 in 2012
Motion to approve budget as amended passed.

Several thank you notes were written and signed by all council members present.

Adjourn with prayer.