Grace Lutheran Church

Council Meeting

December 13, 2011

Preliminary Matters:

  1. Russell Gundermann called the meeting to order. Members present: Skip Brown, Roger Bunkers, Eric Larson, Gene Kronback, Nikki Jorgenson, Steve Schmalz. Also present was Pastor Dave Danner.
  2. Devotions were given by Eric Larson.
  3. The secretary’s report: The secretary’s report was approved on a motion by Roger Bunkers and seconded by Gene Kronback. The motion carried unanimously.
  4. The treasurer’s report was approved on a motion by Steve Schmalz and seconded by Eric Larson. The motion carried unanimously.
  5. Pastor’s Report:
  6. Everything is going well. Getting prepared for Christmas services. Continue to look for service projects that we can help within the community.
  7. Thank you to the Sunday School for their excellent Christmas Program. Many contributed to the program to make it a success and to make it relevant for today.
  8. Committee Reports:

a. Personnel Committee: Job descriptions are being written.

b. Trustees: It has been brought to the attention of the Trustees that some paint is being chipped off the lower brick of the social hall. Trustees will look into this. We are looking for someone to help in repair of the cracks in the sheetrock in the sanctuary.

c. Worship Committee: Christmas Eve Service at 5:00 p.m. Christmas Day service in the Social Hall with cookies and carols.

Old Business:

  1. Repair of Plasterboard: We are looking for someone to help in repair of the cracks in the sheetrock in the sanctuary.
  2. New Council Members: We are in need of someone to fill a Deacon position.
  3. Payment schedule for ECFE: A schedule was put in place to make a payment after the last Monday of each month. ECFE continues to go well.

New Business:

a. Annual Meeting: Set for January 22, 2012 with a snow date for January 29.

b. Reports: Due December 28, 2011

c. Budget: Council reviewed proposed 2012 budget. It will be proposed to the congregation at the Annual Meeting.

d. Noisy Offering: Motion made by Roger Bunkers to have the next six months of Noisy Offering given to the Sunday School. Seconded by Gene Kronback. Motion carried unanimously.

Closing:

  1. Roger Bunkers made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Steve Schmalz seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
  2. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Nikki Jorgenson on behalf of Council Secretary

Your council

All meetings of the council are open to anyone who would like to attend. If you have a concern or comment, please feel free to come to a meeting. Or, if you prefer, talk with a council member and have them bring your concern to the council

Next meeting

Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m.

President – Russell Gundermann 274-6789

Secretary – Linda Carter 859-2315

Treasurer – Deloris Winter 274-6643

Members:

Skip Brown 274-5553

Roger Bunkers 274-5931

Nikki Jorgenson 274-5953

Eugene Kronback 274-5162

Eric Larson 274-5168

Steve Schmalz 274-5667

Let us know

If you know of someone who is hospitalized or at home and would like the pastor or a member of our Grace family to visit, please call June at the church office 274-5572 or 274-6558.

Our Prayer Chain is ready to pray for your joys or needs ! Please call Coralyn Comnick 274-5318; Pauline Rueter 274-5513 or the church 274-5572.

Prayer Concerns

Pray for Laura Anderson, Bertha Deutschman, Betty Jensen, Lil Knudson, Clara Lohse, Isabel Nibbe and all those with on-going needs.

Budget information

Year-to-Date Budget = $157,481.02

Year-to-Date contributions = $147,674.04

Short = $9,806.98 (As of Dec.27, 2011)

Change of address

Please give us address updates if you move or plan to be away for an extended time. Please contact the church office (507)274-5572 or gwoffice@ centurytel.net with the address change or to put your Flashlight on hold. It will save “return to sender” fees! Thank you for your cooperation.

Sunday readings

January 1

Numbers 6:22-27

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 2:15-21

January 8

Genesis 1:1-5

Acts 19:1-7

Mark 1:4-11

January 15

1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

John 1:43-51

January 22

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

January 29

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Mark 1:21-28

Attendance

November 6 129

November 13 133

November 20 123

November 27 97

Volunteer needed

There may be those who need a ride to church on Sunday. If you would like to volunteer to give a ride to those who need one or would like to coordinate the schedule for drivers, please see Pastor Dave or President Russell Gundermann.

Ushers

Please make every effort to be in church the month you are scheduled. If you cannot be there or if you have any questions, please contact Jim Schneider 274-6318 or Marvin Sorenson 274-6787.

Dennis Lidtke Jeffrey Cassel

Scott Knudson Craig Jans

Acolytes

If you are unable to participate when you are scheduled, please find a replacement.

Jan. 1 Zach Vande Kieft & Breanna Lidtke

Jan. 8 B. Schoenenberger & Sophie Horkey

Jan. 15 Calle Anderson & Tristan Joel

Jan. 22 Adam Hass & Jack Jorgenson

Jan. 29 Cassidy Mischke & Zach Vande Kieft

Lector

Please get a substitute if you are unable to read when you are scheduled.

Jan. 1 Jim Jorgenson

Jan. 8 Penny Danner

Jan. 15 Russell Gundermann

Jan. 22 Skip Brown

Jan. 29 Kris Isder

Greeters

Please get a substitute if you are unable to greet when you are scheduled.

Jan. 1 Gene & Maydelle Kronback

Jan. 8 Wayne and Joan Spielman

Jan. 15 Mike & Lairdie Kells

Jan. 22 Rich & Kris Isder

Jan. 29 Ruth Bevier

Stewardship

If you are unable to count the money when you are scheduled, please find a replacement.

January Steve or Priscilla Comnick

Carter & Natalie Ross

Church cancellations

For Sunday worship cancellations due to bad weather, please listen to KDOM (94.3 FM) Windom or KJOE (106.1) Slayton. We will try to have Sunday morning cancellations on the radio before 8:00 a.m.

Update from Kris Isder

The fall semester is over and I had two weeks off for Christmas break.

One of my projects for the break is to write my endorsement essay for the candidacy process. There are three questions and a 10-page limit. My endorsement interview will be early February.

During January, I will be doing my Cross-Cultural Experience (CCE) that is a requirement for seminary. I am participating in Church Based Community Organizing in St. Paul. It runs for two weeks including Sunday mornings.

Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) are going well. One of the members of my CPE group is a School Sister of Notre Dame and lives at their facility (Good Counsel) in Mankato. We had one of our CPE meetings there in Dec. and since we had an evening session, she invited us to stay overnight. The part we stayed in was where the prospective nuns would stay during their training. It’s an interesting place.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

How Can You Show Your Love?

Want to do something special for your spouse to show how much you care? Attend a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend and focus on just the two of you. Engaging presentations by both lay and clergy leaders give you tools and information while exercises and conversations with your spouse in the privacy of your hotel room revitalize romance, deepen communication, and nourish the spirituality in your marriage

The Spring Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends in Minnesota are February 10-12 (think Valentines!) in Brooklyn Center, March 23-25 in Duluth and May 4-6 in Walker. Please register several weeks in advance. For more information, contact Dick & Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, Pete & Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575 or visit www.godlovesmarriage.org.

Dad’s Belgian Waffles

Sunday, January 15

Westbrook Community Center

Serving from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

$7.00 per person

Under 5 free

Proceeds to

Veterans Memorial Project

For weather announcement listen to KJOE or KDOM radio

Thank you

Dear members of Grace Lutheran Church,

Thank you for your Congregation Gift of $617.10 to Shetek Lutheran Ministries. Without your generosity, Shetek Lutheran Ministries simply could not continue it’s mission of providing year around opportunities for Christ centered renewal and learning for all ages. You are truly making a difference in the faith building experience for the youth and families coming to SLM.

Your gift demonstrates a genuine commitment to our ministry. It’s so helpful to be able to count on friends like you.

Thank you!

Marvin Nysetvold

Executive Director

Volunteers Needed!

Do you have 90 minutes to spare during the week or the month? Mary & Martha’s Pantry is in need of volunteers to help distribute food to the people who need to use the pantry. Training will be provided. Won’t you consider giving back to the community in this way? Thank you for helping out our neighbors.

January 18 2:00 p.m.

Installation of officers

Hymn: “Earth and All Stars” ELW 731

Devotions: Mavis Duggen

Program: Earth, Wind and Fire -

Pastor Dave Danner

Offering Hymn: “We Give Thee but Thine Own”

ELW 686

Serving Group:

*Anne Hansen Darlene Jarmer

Grace Jensen Paula Gundermann

Sewing Meetings

January 5 & 19

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Noon: Sack lunch

Circle Schedule

Lydia Circle – Wednesday, January11 at 8:45 a.m. at the church

Miriam Circle – Thursday, January 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the home of Liz Steen

Flower Committee: January

Mavis Duggen* Anne Hansen

Do not put flowers on the organ or piano.

See Policy handbook for placement of flowers.

Chancel Committee: January - March

Linda Carter* Ruth Knakmuhs

Barb Fowler Angie Larson

Visiting Committee: January - February

This committee visits homes, hospitals and the shut-ins.

Brenda Engen* Sue Cohrs

Janice Norstegard Janice Sondergaard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grace WELCA

December 14, 2011

Grace WELCA met December 14, 2011, in the social hall. Twenty-five members and guests were present. We began the afternoon by singing the hymn “This Little Light of Mine.”

Devotions were given by Janice Sondergaard – The Magical Gift, Psalm 25:5.

Vera Rachuy, Mission Growth Chairperson welcomed the guests, and announced the program “Called to Share” presented by Dolly Phelps a member of the Westbrook Kiwanis. She showed a DVD of three separate families who have used the Children’s Miracle Hospital in Sioux Falls. A touching video of children, coping with cancer and diabetes. They also care for premature babies and many other health problems of children. The Westbrook Kiwanis Club has sponsored events to raise money for this hospital. They participate in the Children’s Miracle Network every year and also do cash-flow projects in town. She made us aware that money can be donated any time of the year. All proceeds stay in our area which is in Sioux Falls. Contact Dolly for information.

The offering meditation was given by Vera, followed by a prayer of thanks. We then sang the hymn “Joy to the World.”

The offering was taken followed by the praying of the Lord’s Prayer and singing of the Table Prayer.

President Karla Gundermann opened the business meeting.

The secretary’s report was approved as printed.

The treasurer’s report was read and placed on file.

The correspondence was read: Thank you from Cottonwood County Family Service for the lovely, warm quilts that were given. Thank you from the Vernon Jarmer and Linda Kyes families for the meals served at the funerals.

Old Business: None

New Business: None

Committee reports: Sewing committee meets first Thursday in January, everyone welcome.

A motion was made by Delna Mischke, seconded by Janice Sondergaard to adjourn the meeting and lunch was served.

Coralyn Comnick, WELCA secretary

January Birthdays

2nd - Janet Singer

5th - Jordan Winter

6th - Jane Hass

9th - David Jorgenson

10th - Joan Spielman

Stan Erickson

11th - Allison Cassel

13th - Elaine Eichner

Aaron Hass

16th - Maydelle Kronback

Jay Takle

17th - Mary Ann Hagemeyer

18th - Eric Larson

19th John Elzenga

23rd - Kristin Knutson

24th - Arlo Sievers

25th - Connie Meier

26th - Levi Horkey

27th - Ethan Mischke

29th - Steven Schmalz

Loretta Peterson

January Anniversaries

1, 1950 Delbert & Betty Jensen

1, 2007 Dr. Jeffrey & Cecilia Cassel

9, 1965 Robert & Sharon Schultz

16, 1955 Clarence & Leora Hass

January Events

1st - New Year’s Day

10:15 a.m. Worship/Communion/Coffee

Acolytes: Zach Vande Kieft & Breanna Lidtke

Coffee & cake – Vera’s 80th birthday

3rd - 10:00 a.m. Text study

4th - 9:00 a.m. Secretary at church

10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible study

3:30 p.m. 7th grade confirmation

4:30 p.m. 10th grade confirmation

7:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study

8:00 p.m. Adult choir rehearsal

5th - 10:00 a.m. Sewing meeting

6th - 1:00 p.m. Secretary at church

8th - 9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10:15 a.m. Worship/Communion

Acolytes: B. Schoenenberger & Sophie Hokey

11:15 a.m. Church undecorating/Potluck

10th - 10:00 a.m. Text study

1:00 p.m. Printing Annual Report

7:30 p.m. Council meeting

11th 8:45 a.m. Lydia Circle

9:00 a.m. Secretary at church

10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible study

3:30 p.m. 7th grade confirmation

4:30 p.m. 10th grade confirmation

7:00 p.m. Men’s Bible Study

8:00 p.m. Adult choir rehearsal

12th - 7:30 p.m. Miriam Circle/Liz Steen

13th - 1:00 p.m. Secretary at church

15th - 9:00 a.m. Sunday School

10:15 a.m. Worship/Communion

Acolytes: Calle Anderson & Tristan Joel

17th - 10:00 a.m. Text study

18th - 9:00 a.m. Secretary at church

10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible study

2:00 p.m. WELCA

3:30 p.m. 7th grade confirmation

4:30 p.m. 10th grade confirmation