Trinity Lutheran Church Council Minutes
February 13, 2023
6:00 Pastor Donnita’s house
I. Call to Order/Attendance – Janel, Elaine, Terri, Kendra, Jim and Pastor
Donnita. Meeting commenced at 6:15pm.
II. Devotion – Genesis 12:1-4a
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and
from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you
a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you
will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses
you I will curse, and in you all the families of the Earth will be blessed.”
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him.
This will be the Old Testament reading for March 5. In Lenten materials
written by Pastor Erika Uthe, she reminds us that Abram went to the new
land, because he had faith in the promises of God. In fact, we could say that
Abram faithed. We usually think of the word faith as a noun, but it can be
thought of as a verb. Faith leads us into action.
1. What faith-action words describe our life of faith?
2. What faith-action words describe Trinity?
3. What faith-action words, could we follow to reach our community?
Prayer
III. Administration
A. Approve Minutes – Approve minutes of last meeting. Janel
motioned, Elaine seconded to approve the January 10, 2023,
minutes. Passed unanimously.
B. Treasurer’s Report – Approve the treasurer’s report for January.
Kendra motioned Janel seconded to approve the report. Passed
unanimously.
C. Pastor’s Report –
Expenses
Boxes 11.99
Book- Spiritual Growth 14.93
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Book-Soul Feast 13.29
Easter bracelets 7.29/set x 2=14.58
Word 7.48
Question
Who are Call Committee members?
Paperwork
Biennial state filing
Synod Mission Giving intent 2023
ELCA Annual report
Membership list
Typed as directory
Archived members
Added members
Sunday schedule
Sunday, February 19, Pastor Marcia, Deb Cook reader
Wednesday, February 22, Pastor Donnita ride helper?
Sunday, February 26, Pastor Donnita
Sunday, March 5 Pastor Erika
Sunday, March 12 Pastor Donnita ride helper?
Sunday, March 19, Pastor John Meyer
Sunday, March 26, Pastor Donnita ride helper?
Sunday, April 2 lay led, Palm Sunday readings and hymns
Sunday, April 9 Easter Pastor Donnita
Sunday, April 16 Pastor Marcia
Sunday, April 23 Pastor Donnita
Sunday, April 30 Pastor Marcia
Dinner Church
Fundraising $2160
Dinner costs $2530
T-shirt cost. 238
Total cost. 2768
Dinners 10-12/plate
Ordered prefilled communion cups
250 for dinner church
50 for home communion
25 gluten free for home communion
200 @ $115
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100 @ 64
25 @ 30
Ministerial
The Chosen-interest in a study?
Methodist Church- The Chosen People 3-4
Baccalaureate discussion
Since last month
3 sermons and Sundays
Bob Thumma funeral
Planning Lent Sundays
Planning midweek virtual
Planning Ash Wednesday
Let’s be Dinosaurs! Discussion
Worship committee meeting
Facebook posts
2 Synod zoom meetings
2 webinars on leadership in changing times
D. Council Reports/Committee
1. Worship & Tech – The worship committee has not met.
a.) Having been asked the duties of the Altar committee I then
asked several questions of Pastor Pries, one knowledgeable
but removed from the situation. I forwarded his response
to Kim and to one who had asked. (The email should be
shared with all the committee members.)
b.) General plans are made for Ash Wednesday’s service.
Pastor Donnita has created a format for Sundays’ services
in Lent; no sung liturgy and no setting. Mid-week services
will be broadcasted with music recorded and provided by
the choir. Messages will be recorded as two-person skits.
c.) Supply pastors have been scheduled through April 23rd
with one exception, April 2nd which is Palm Sunday. (I am
assuming Pastor Donnita will be planning Good Friday’s
service.)
2. Stewardship – Haven’t met
3. Education – Haven’t met
4. HR – Nothing new to report
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5. Property
a.) 2023 Property Committee. Les expressed to Mike his desire
to step down as Property Chair but remain on the
committee through the end of 2023 in order to train the
committee on his Trinity property knowledge. Mike thought
this was a good idea. 2023 Property Committee: Mike
August, Chair, Mike White, Les Schneckloff, Mike Herring.
b.) Failed Boiler Inspection. Last week there was an annual
state inspection of our boiler. There are new requirements
that Carbon Monoxide detectors must be installed in the
boiler room and be able to be heard outside the room’s
closed door. The inspector advised Les we need to install
one within the next 30 days and advise them once it is
completed. Inspector’s letter of inspection is in our files. Les
is to purchase and install the detector and have us respond
to the inspector by 2/17.
c.) Church office Door lock and doorknob issue. Currently
unable to enter office. We have been having issues with
the door not locking or fully latching for some time now.
Below is a picture of the door Caitlin took Wednesday night.
The door latches because of the inner cylinder, but there is
a crack in the door, which is making the cylinder loose, and
causing it to not latch properly. Someone had stuffed the
holes with paper to try and make it tighter. On Friday Caitlin
was unable to open the door. Terri advised her to call a
locksmith. He advised that the door, knob and/or lock
would most likely need replaced. The locksmith doesn’t
know what he would be able to if he came out, because it
seems like a cylinder issue on the inside. It is a commercial
lock on a wood door, and we could try to have someone
with a crowbar try and help wiggle it free. Caitlin sent
information regarding the situation to Property Committee
Chair Mike August to see how they would like to handle.
Until the door can be opened, we are unable to count
offering funds, and do not have access to the financial
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records that need to be reviewed by the Financial Review
Committee prior to the annual meeting. We are unable to
print financials for the Annual Meeting packets.
6. Hospitality – Neva Phillips along with her helpers planned and
served the funeral meal for Bob Thumma in January.
7. Evangelism
8. Finance
Work Groups
1. Capital Improvement
2. Memorial
3. Backpack Buddies
4. GRACE
IV. Previous Business
A. Signage update-Terri Supplies have been ordered and should be on
the doors by the end of the month.
B. New air conditioner-Mike/Terri – Les checked with Solon Plumbing
and Heating. Two a/c compressors need to be replaced.
C. Transportation assistance for Pastor Donnita (Ride & Helper)
Who is available to call and solicit rides and helpers?
Wed 2/22 Ride: Helper:
Sun 3/12 Ride: Helper:
Sun 3/26 Ride: Helper:
D. Pulpit Supply Coverage Needed:
Sun 4/2 Lay Led Psalm Sunday Service – Readings and Hymns
Reader:
E. MSP SEIA Synod Zoom meetings
Thank you for attending! Below is training I show completed, please
send an update to Terri if any information needs added/changed.
Next Session: zoom link of: https://usweb.zoom.us/j/88531868391
2/21 Compensation Guidelines 7:45pm 3
rd Tues
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Recorded session links: If you couldn’t attend live, or want to see the
training or materials again, see email attachment that came with
agenda to link to the trainings.
V. New Business:
A. Annual Meeting Preparation
a. Review Annual Meeting Agenda
b. Information needed
• 2023 Nominating Committee members:
• 2023 Financial Record Inspectors:
• 2023 Recommended New Council Member:
• Laurie and Mike to review Financials so report can be printed.
c. Announcement/Reminder in Church services about annual
meeting:
Sun 2/12: Meeting 2/26 after service
Sun 2/19: Meeting 2/26, Packets available on back table for
anyone wanting to review prior to the annual meeting.
d. Help hand out annual meeting packet prior to service on 2/26
B. Share the Love with GRACE campaign February – Donations every week
in the noisy offering.
SYNOD TRAINING COMPLETED
Mike Terri Kendra Maggie Kristy Elaine Janel
Pastor
D
Cong Vitality 1/3/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 1/3/23 2/7/23
Diversity, Eq
& Inclusion 1/3/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 2/7/23 207/23
1/3/23
2/7/23
Overview of
the Process 1/17/23 1/17/23 1/17/23L 1/17/23 1/17/23 1/17/23 1/17/23
Compensation
Guidelines
Ministry Site
Profiles 1/24/23 1/24/23 1/24/23 1/24/23 0/24/23 1/24/23 1/30/23
Interview Proc 1/24/23 1/24/23 1/24/23 1/24/23 1/24/23
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C. Dinner Church – Terri made a motion to pay up to $1000 from general
fund. Elaine seconded. Approved. Donations will be made at dinner
church. Janel will talk to Brenda about Thrivent money.
D. Breeze Software – Elaine says there is an issue with the software and
would like to investigate different software programs.
E. ELCA Mission Investment – Jim gave explanation of the account to
council at Pastor Donnita’s request.
F. Locking of File Cabinets – Terri has talked to Caitlyn about it. Will be
done.
G. Fire Safe Discussion – Terri will talk to Mike. Terry Hein wanted to
check fire extinguisher. Needed keys.
H. Other
VI. Closing Prayer – Led by Pastor
VII. Adjournment – Motion by Elaine to adjourn the meeting; second made by
Janel. Motion passed. 8:08pm
Next council meeting—Tuesday 3/14 6pm Pastor Donnita’s