KENT MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 6:58 p.m. by Ken Mueller, President. Devotion was led by Jim Chapman.
Members present: Jim Chapman, Deanne DeJarnette, Pat Garrett, Lois Gonseth, Shirley Kirchner, Harvey Lembke, Ken Mueller, Charles Niemann, Joe Poretta, Tom Reeder and Pastor Beese
Excused: Linda Kimberling and Fred Tetley
The minutes of the August 21, 2007 meeting were reviewed. A motion was made by Shirley Kirchner and seconded by Jim Chapman to accept the minutes as written. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report - The Treasurer’s Report was tabled pending clarification.
Building Fund Report – Receipts were very positive for the past month. Tom Reeder had requested a copy of the mortgage document for the building addition with the terms for repayment. A copy of the document has been received from the loan company.
PASTOR’S REPORT – Pastor Beese updated the Council on Nancy’s progress in her recovery from foot surgery and subsequent back pain. The last cruise worship of the season was held last week with smaller numbers in attendance. In anticipation of the same program next summer, the congregation will be informed that a pontoon boat is not necessary to be a part of the worship experience. Other types of watercraft and “boat-pooling” are encouraged. Pastor said he would plan on the same Lake locations next summer unless he receives other suggestions. The Mission Fair is planned for this coming Sunday between services. Sunday School will be delayed long enough for the organizations participating in the Fair to give a short presentation on their program. The seasonal “give away” at Community for Christ will be this coming Saturday. Volunteers are needed at the end of the sale to bag up items that remain. A New Member Class will begin in October. An Area 9 meeting is scheduled for October 4, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, with an authentic German meal being served following the business meeting. Acolyte training was held last Sunday during the Sunday School hour for 4th through 12th graders.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Christian Education – Sunday School resumed on September 9th. The Sr. High class will be asked to stage a puppet show for the younger children on a monthly basis. Members of the congregation contributed $419 toward the $1,400 cost of receiving The Lutheran. Brian Kuckler will ask Denise Kralina to provide the leadership in organizing a “Trunk or Treat” location at Kent for area children from 5:30-7:30 p.m., as an alternative to Halloween door-to-door “trick or treating.” Members of Kent will be informed on ways to participate and what kinds of treats are acceptable. Ozark Chapel United Methodist Church holds a similar event on their parking lot. Publicity at Hurricane Deck School and South Elementary School was suggested. Child safety will be paramount in determining where cars will be parked to avoid the routine traffic flow in front of the church buildings. Pat Garrett reported that members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association have volunteered to be present and assist in anyway they can during the event.
Evangelism – There was no meeting. Ken Mueller will e-mail the template for the “bread report” to Shirley Kirchner for the Committee’s use.
Long-Range Planning – Will meet next week.
Ministry Fund – No report.
Property Committee – The air conditioner in the church office has been repaired. Joe Poretta said payment of the bill had not come through the Property Committee and he will ask Gail Kruse in the future to route such bills to him prior to payment, to assure the amount charged is in agreement with the bid negotiated for the repair. Trash has been cleaned up around the garage and the recycling barrel has been moved out-of-view when walking to and from the outdoor worship area. Black dirt and grass seed are needed behind the parsonage. Richard Gonseth will be asked to use his spreader to complete this project. Church keys need to be identified for the newly installed key cabinet in the office area. Neighbors of Shirley Evans are interested in providing plantings for the church in her memory. Helen Garagnani who is representing Shirley’s neighbors will discuss planting needs with Laura Claggett. The ignition switch has been repaired on the Massey Ferguson tractor and the battery has been charged. Information on the bulletin board concerning the sale of the tractor and attachments has been changed to reflect this repair. Proceeds from the sale of the tractor will be used to upgrade the present mowing equipment. Harvey Lembke reported a need to repair the sliding glass door in the master bedroom of the parsonage. Joe Poretta will coordinate a time for getting an estimate for the repair that is most convenient for Pastor and Nancy Beese.
Social Ministry – Pat Garrett reported that CoMo Electric has a meeting of their CoMo Care group scheduled and we anticipate a response to the request of the Social Ministry Committee for financial assistance in responding to the needs of local families. Kathy Norris is coordinating Kent’s participation in the annual Festival of Sharing in Sedalia, MO on October 20, 2007. The Director of Community for Christ will be attending the next meeting of the Social Ministry Committee to make a recommendation of a family the Committee may choose to mentor for a year. Kent participated in the 25-mile Garage Sale. The Chamber of Commerce was paid $10 for the church’s participation and each individual participant was asked to contribute $10 to the social ministry program at Kent. In response to an inquiry, Ken Mueller will confirm the church’s liability coverage for such events involving visitors to the property. Pat Garrett will ask Gail Kruse to explain the process for tracking donations to the Social Ministry Program at Kent. In this regard, it was pointed out that the Social Ministry Committee will not be asked to prepare a budget request form for the Finance Committee, since all of the Committee’s funds are received through individual donations and are not reflected in the annual church budget.
Stewardship – No meeting.
Worship & Music – No report available. In anticipation of the Advent Season, Pastor Beese reported there will be three Wednesday night services during Advent. A copy of the serving schedule for committees to provide Advent meals was redistributed to members of the Church Council for use in determining when specific Committees are scheduled to serve. Ken Mueller reported he had set up the schedule early in the year as a guide for Committees and that the serving dates are not “set in stone.” Committees are encouraged to trade dates when schedule conflicts occur. (A free-will offering approach to cover the cost of the meals will be discussed at the October Council Meeting.)
Youth – Aluminum can receipts continue to help the youth budget. Church members will be asked to save the coupons found in the Lake Sun to increase the recycle amount received for aluminum. A night of Cosmic Bowling will be scheduled for youth confirmation age and older. Fund raising through leaf raking and other services to members was discussed in anticipation of the youth participating in the ELCA national youth event in New Orleans in 2009. A picnic was held at Hillbilly Park in Laurie to “kick off” the Sunday School church year. The youth will participate in the Festival of Sharing in Sedalia in October. The Committee volunteered to prepare weekly “treat bags” for Pastor Beese to give to the children who participate in the youth message on Sunday mornings. Additional Youth Committee members are needed. Gail Kruse volunteered to contact individuals at Kent who have shown a special interest in youth activities in the past to determine their interest in being part of the Committee.
OLD BUSINESS
Outdoor Worship Area – Ken reported that Steve Kralina had worked very hard to produce the brackets necessary to adapt one of the old benches with a back for seating comfort. Steve did an excellent job, but the attachment process was very time-consuming, since the holes were dug by hand. It was suggested that a power auger would be helpful for converting future benches. Steve Kralina and Gary DeGarnette have been asked to consider making the brackets necessary to convert the remaining benches, as their time and the outdoor worship financial resources allow.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS – An updated list was available for each Council member.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT – Ken prefaced the report by explaining that there are actually only four members of the Council scheduled to complete their terms at the end of 2007. Fred Tetley and Joe Poretta were filling the unexpired terms of two Council members who had resigned. Both terms were to have run through 2008. Both Fred Tetley and Joe Poretta were contacted to determine their desire to remain on the Council through 2008. Fred reported that he and Linda plan to return to Texas to be volunteers with the Park Service during the winter months and eventually (when their house at the Lake sells) dedicate themselves to full-time volunteerism in Texas. Joe Poretta said he would be willing to remain on the Council through 2008. The following individuals have agreed to serve on the Church Council for three-year terms beginning January 1, 2008: Jennifer Bolton, Virgil Norris, Don Wilken and Diane Ziehl. The names of these individuals will be brought before the congregation for election to the Council at the next Congregational Meeting on November 11, 2007.
BUDGET PROCESS - Completed budget forms need to be in the hands of the Finance Committee (Pat Poretta) by the end of September.
NEW BUSINESS
USE OF THE CHURCH FACILITIES - Requests to use the church facilities by both church members and outside individuals/groups have increased in recent months. The cost of electricity has increased over the same period last year. In an effort to be good stewards of our facilities, it was suggested that an adhoc committee look at the Policies and Procedures currently in place for use of the facilities and to make recommendations for any revisions. Harvey Lembke, Charles Niemann and Pastor Beese agreed to review the current policy. Jennifer and/or John Bolton, our church custodians, will be asked to participate in the review process, in order to determine first-hand how the increased utilization of the facilities has affected the time required to maintain the facilities.
NEXT MEETING – October 16, 2007 with Shirley Kirchner leading the devotion.
ADJOURNMENT – A motion was made by Pat Garrett and seconded by Charles Niemann that the meeting adjourn at 8:35 p.m. with prayer by Pastor Beese
Darleen Mueller,
Recording Secretary
