February 7, 2023
First Lutheran Church Council Minutes – February 7, 2023
Council Members present: Debbie Butler, Jan McElroy, Joslyn LaVera, Ida Malde, Pete Petersen, Don Mesick and Levi Winter
Council members absent: Eric Merten, Kara Danna
Non-council members present: Pastor Dennis Hickman, Julie Anna Boss and Isabella Weidert
Devotions were given by Pete Petersen.
The March devotions will be given by Pete Petersen.
Introduction of new members Don and Levi.
It was moved by Pete Petersen and seconded by Debbie Butler, and passed to approve the January 2023 council minutes.
Old Business:
Joslyn and Sheila did the kitchen inventory and created a master list for inventory. There are post it notes by the coffee maker to leave notes for Julie Anna on what needs to be purchased.
The roof leak is a drainage pipe leak and will be fixed on February 13th.
AED- can purchase a refurbished one for about $750 plus tax, there’s a shortage of new ones. Pete moved and Debbie gave second to purchase a refurbished one, passed.
New Business:
Ida Malde, President; Eric Merten, Vice; Jan McElroy, Secretary. Pete moved and Joslyn gave second for the officer positions. Passed
Committees:
Youth: Levin Winter Education: Debbie Butler
Outreach: Kara Dana and Eric Merten Stewardship: Pete Petersen
Property Management: Jan McElroy IT: OPEN
Congregational Life: Joslyn LaVera Worship & Music: Don Mesick
March 12 we will have a Ministry Fair during Coffee Hour to invite more to be involved
Soup and Bread Suppers for Lent:
March 1 Worship and Music
March 8 Outreach/IT
March 15 Congregational Life
March 22 Stewardship/Property Management
March 29 Youth and Education
Cold Weather Shelter:
Going well. About 18-19 per week have been staying. People are donating items and meals on their own but there is money in the fund if anyone wants to turn in receipts for reimbursement
Reports:
Pastor’s Report: - See attached for the full report
The pastor’s written report was given to council. Items and council discussion included:
Ash Wednesday Service Offering will go to FISH food bank.
Lent Offering will go to Lutheran Disaster Response on a motion from Pete, second from Joslyn and passed by Council.
Outreach: A giving tree was set up to provide finds for the Weekend Nutrition program. Money is coming in. The tree will be up through March.
Tackle Hunger/Souper Bowl Sunday raised over $700 to be given to FISH.
Worship and Music: The sound/speaker system issues are fixed.
Stewardship: Money coming in appears to be doing okay; FLC steps up whenever and whatever the need is. 2023 pledges have not be looked at yet
Youth and Education: Valentines were sent out to the Sunday School kids.
2-3 more teachers are still needed for teaching the 2 Sunday classes set to begin in March for age 3-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade.
Debbie Butler and Patty Akers are organizing and merging supplies from the preschool, VBS and Sunday School.
The FLC Women’s retreat is scheduled for April 15 at Lazy F.
A Youth retreat will be scheduled at the beach.
The Youth want to attend the 2024 Youth Gathering.
Congregational Life: Kitchen supply sheet made.
Discussion on bringing back the Sunday coffee hour donation basket was had and it was agreed to do to help pay for coffee and such.
It was agreed to use Thrivent dollars to pay for kitchen/coffee supplies.
Property Management: The Sanctuary light project starts February 13.
The gym roof leak will be fixed February 13.
South Property: Good, full tenants.
IT: The Sound System is updated and working well now.
Financial Report: See attached for a full report
Pete moved and Jan gave second to use Memorial funds to pay for the lighting project.
The memorial fund use committee is Art Neslund, Joan Keith and Geraldine Childress- more members are needed.
· Contributions to FISH for January totaled $1503.02.
· Contributions to ELCA Disaster Response totaled 100.00
Adjournment:
· The next council meeting will be held on Tuesday March 14 at 6:30pm and the council was asked to read and study the Goals set by council and be prepared to discuss them at the March meeting.
· The meeting was adjourned with prayer.
Respectfully submitted by Jan McElroy.
Pastor’s report to church council Feb 7, 2023
1. Welcome aboard to our new council member Don Meseck!
2. Annual meeting went well. Short and sweet as usual. Thanks to Julie Anna, Sheila Johnson and the youth for the yummy baked potato feed.
3. Election of officers and Ministry sign-ups.
4. Also please sign up to help host a soup-n-bread supper Wed’s at 6pm. March 1,8,15,22,29.
5. Hymn-de-gras potluck & sing along: Wed Feb 15: eat at 6pm sing from about 6:45-7:30.
Can congregational life help with set-up/clean up?
6. Ash Wed worship Feb 22 at 7pm. Our Methodist friends will be joining us here. Pastor Austin Adkinson will help me lead worship and Lee Bates will play organ. OK to give offerings to FISH Food Bank? On Good Friday, we are invited to the Methodist church for worship. We’ll host Maundy Thurs worship here.
7. Lenten Soup Suppers and Holden Evening Prayer Wed’s March 1,8,15,22,29. OK to give offerings to weekend nutrition?
8. Sanctuary lighting project Feb 13-16. Thank you Brian McElroy for making it happen! OK to use memorial funds to pay for it? Gym roof/drain pipe leak.
9. Youth Snow play day at Lazy F on Sat Feb 4th went well.
10. Red Cross blood drive in our gym on Feb 2, noon to 5 also went well.
11. I plan on offering First Communion Classes for kids on Sun Feb 26 & Mar 5 after worship.
12. Our bi-annual Northwest Intermountain Synod assembly will happen April 28-30 at the Pasco Red Lion. We can send the pastor and up to 2 delegates. Costs: $550 single occupancy, $425 double occupancy, $325 commuter (includes meals). Kara Danna expressed interest in attending. I may stay at my Mom’s house to cut costs. We are electing (re-electing?) a bishop this year. After this year, synod assemblies will probably be online rather than in-person. Synod gatherings in the off years will still be in-person.
13. Purchase an AED? About $1500. (I changed the sanctuary furnace filters on Jan 30.)
Next meeting Tues Mar 7 or 14. (I will be out of town at a dean’s meeting on 3-14.) Devotions?
Peace in Christ, Pastor Dennis