Congregation Council
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS – MARCH 2012
•Prudy Zinser opened our meeting at 6:36 p.m. with devotions.
•We read aloud our Purpose Statement: “Make disciples, and Grow in Grace!”
•Zoe Lynda Pine attended the meeting and presented a new system for Time and Talent profiles. The Council was invited to “start from scratch” in developing this new format for the congregation to use when it comes time for filling out Time and Talent forms each fall. “What skills do you have?” and “What skills do you need?” are being asked of each ministry to start this process.
•First Communion Class for 2012 will be Ella Estep, Natalie King, Bailey Patrick, and Cameron Wilcox. Their first communion will happen at the blended service on Palm Sunday, April 1, 2012.
•Compliments shared included our Children’s Choir at the blended service; the new Kitchen Crew; and, the new cleaning service
•Approval of monthly reports and minutes was accepted as written
•Council approved a tax exempt Sam’s Club card.
•Handicapped parking – concern has been brought to council that people who are not handicapped are parking in spaces marked as such while folks who are handicapped are having to park further away. We are looking at created more handicapped spaces, and, are encouraging members who can park elsewhere to please do so. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated!
•Ken Diehl brought up the need to consider using the Second Harvest Food Bank for the OSLC food pantry because the savings we could get with many items (not all) could stretch our ability to feed more people. Based on last month’s conversation about getting more involved in the community, Ken also pointed out that SHFB has every 3rd Saturday as a volunteer day. The 2nd Tuesday of the month is another day when volunteers are invited to come out and help.
•A Technology Seminar is being planned soon. Sean Golden is setting this up with a coworker who does this kind of work. Details are forthcoming.
•Safe-Haven Policy – still looking for a little more information from our insurance company and from other Lutheran Churches. We hope to vote on this in April.
•Bob Hembre is still working on forming a Committee on Communication.
•The Southeastern Synod Assembly is set for June 1-3, 2012. We can send up to three people. Council is considering this opportunity.
•We spoke the words of our Vision Statement: “We love God and Neighbor, so that all people will be disciples!”
•We adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer at 7:45 p.m.
•Next Council Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on April 9, 2012.
VISION: OSLC Major Goals 2009
Where there is no vision, the people perish. - Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)
Because we want to GROW in CHRIST, we are challenged to:
1. Support new initiatives to reach the un-churched or de-churched with a goal of increasing our worship attendance by 21 people (10%) by the end of 2009.
2. Improve communications
3. Develop a two year Strategic Plan
4. Upgrade facilities for handicap accessibility, safety and friendliness
5. Improve visibility of the church building to reach passersby
6. Begin an intentional small group ministry program to build deeper faith and connections
7. Actively seek outside groups to use the building to bring more people into our Christian environment
8. Strengthen our ministry to children, teens and young adults
9. Improve record keeping on members
10. Create a plan for having a multi-event evening on a weekly basis that has at least some events designed to reach out to the community
11. Actively reach out to members who are uninvolved to make connections
12. Foster spiritual gifts recognition and facilitate better use of our members' gifts.
This Vision 2009 Statement was prayerfully designed by the Congregation Council at their retreat and following meeting in February. Some items will be multi-year initiatives, some will always be part of a vision, and others will be completed this year. We invite all to participate in achieving these goals. Please offer your feedback and suggestions to any member of the Congregation Council.