Trinity Lutheran Church Council Minutes

April 11, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 6:05 pm by President Mike Herring.  Members present:  Laurie Brandenburg, Kristi Kruse, Janel Stephens, Mike Herring and Pastor Donnita.  Absent:  Kendra VonMunster and Terri Peck.  Jim McCullough was present for to present the treasurer report.

Devotion – Matthew 28 vs 2-7  Devotion was from worksheet for conversation sent by Pastor Erika Uthe, Synod Office.

Motion made by Kristi, 2nd by Janel to approve the March minutes.

Jim M. presented the treasurer’s report.  Motion by Laurie and 2nd by Mike to move PayPal funds to the general funds account and close the PayPal account.  MC  Caitlyn will be asked if she knows if the PayPal account was ever actually set up in PayPal, and if she knows the passwords, so it can be closed.  Motion by Laurie and 2nd by Janel to approve the treasurer’s report. MC

Pastor’s report:  Pastor has concerns about open communication.  Would like to clarify that members need to contact her as the current pastor, when they have needs or issues.                                          Heather McCollough has transferred her membership from Trinity as of 7/22/22.  Baptism of Benson Foster scheduled for April 23, 2023.  Pastor Michelle will do the baptism. Expenses:  Books:  We Rise Higher $7.65, Leading Turnaround Churches $5.59, Imaging a New Church $12.95, Lives We Actually Live $16.37 (2 copies, 1 given to Andrea Williams), Disposable bowls for Stewardship Sunday $18.99        Senior Recognition, volunteer recognition and Council Installation on May 7, 2023.                                       Sufficient funds from offerings to cover Dinner Church                                                                                 Kendra and Mike are working on membership/contact lists.  Kendra will send out the list for council review next month.                                                                                                                                                    Still working on copyright updates.  Terri Peck and Sara Martin will be Synod Assembly delegates.  Pastor will get them registered.  Working with Pastor Melody, will start meeting with church representatives after Easter.                                                                                                                                                                     Since last meeting:  2 Sundays and Good Friday, 1 funeral, ministerial meeting, 3 family contacts, planning Good Friday, Easter and Stewardship Sundays, sermon prep, reading, blog reading, newsletter information.  Motion to accept Pastor’s Report by Mike Herring

Council Reports/Committees:

Stewardship, Stone Soup Sunday, April 23.

Education:  No dates set for VBS.  St Mary’s Catholic Church will also be having one of their own.

Hospitality:  Betty Thumma funeral, cookies for “dinosaur” fellowship discussions and fellowship with Pastor Erika Uthe

Grace:  Andrea will be needing help with meals in May.  Mike will have this on the monthly Agendas so we can stay up to date with her and her family’s needs.

Mike would like all committee chairpersons to write up a description of their committee’s duties and obligations so that they can be put into the church information binder.

Previous Business:

AC  Motion by Kristi, 2nd by Laurie to ask Les and Mike to have Lowden Plumbing and Heating and Thomas PHC rebid the furnace/AC replacement using the same specs as the bid received from Solon PHC.  Do not exceed limit of $26,865, which is the current bid from Solon PHC.  MC

MSP & Synod ZOOM meetings and requirements are up to date.

Visitation team is functioning.  Brenda Herring will write up directions on proper handling of gluten free elements.  Discussion will be held with the team about having different members visiting the homebound, instead of the same person each month.

New Business:

Need 2 assistants each Sunday to help with transport of Pastor Donnita.  Janel will ask David Hein if he is willing to oversee the volunteer list.

AED Unit is installed, 6 members have been trained.  Mike will look into getting training set up for a second group.  He is also going to look into the availability of having Narcan pens in the AED case also.

MSP was reviewed.  Motion by Mike, 2nd by Kristi to accept the MSP as presented by the call committee.  MC

Jim McCullough has submitted his resignation as church treasurer effective July 1, 2023.  Mike Herring will ask for a volunteer from the congregation.  If there is none, he will seek options of hiring an accounting firm to take over.

Mike gave an update on Thinking.  She is graduation from HS this spring and will attend college in the US.  She is able to walk now, and is living the average teenager’s life.  Her and Harrison will be visiting her village in Liberia this summer.  Mike is working to have them come to Trinity for a visit.

Pastor Donnita led a closing prayer.

Motion by Kristi, 2nd Janel to adjourn at 8:20 pm.  MC

Submitted by:

Laurie Brandenburg