Category: 2021 06 June

June 2021 Mustard Seed - Announcements

5/29/2021

Annual Church Family Picnic
Sunday, June 6th, 11am to 2 pm - Rain or Shine!
On Sunday, June 6th, right after the 9:30am worship service we are having the Annual Church Picnic at Spring Valley Park.  This year we will be providing allthe food.  We’ll have designated cooks barbecuing hot dogs and burgers.  We will also be providing all the sides and desserts funded by a Thrivent Action Team card.  All you need to bring is a lawn chair and a mask.  We only ask that you let us know if you are planning to attend so that we have enough food.  It will be nice to be outdoors and get back to fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ in a safe environment.  See you on the 6th!

Technology Volunteers
We are looking for a few volunteers who are willing to learn and help with the technology behind our virtual and in-person worship services. Each week we host our Zoom meeting for worship as well as running the video cameras and sound system in the sanctuary.  Over the past year we have refined this process and it’s running very smoothly now. But it’s being managed by the same few people every week and we are looking to train others to share in this responsibility.  We have engaged a professional to help review our processes and to provide training and want to have other volunteers participate.  Please contact Rich Hollenbach if you are interested.

Lectors & Worship Assistants Needed
We are in need of Lectors(reading the lesson and psalm) and Worship Assistants(reading the prayers and few other passages) for our Zoom and in-person worship.

If you would like to volunteer or would like more information, please call Anna Friedrich.

Shepherding Ministry
A great big THANK YOU to our “shepherds” Chris Jones, Nancy Gansner, Anna Friedrich, Sharon Diggans and Beth Schoening for their kindness and nimble fingers in sending cards to our Faith Family Mothers for Mother’s Day! We are blessed with wonderful mothers!
--- Sharon Hood, Shepherding Leader

Thank You Spring Work Day Helpers
Thank you to all those that came out on Saturday, April 17thfor the Spring Workday… Chris Jones, Anita Halpern, Jack, Grant and Wesley Walls, Dale, Bryan and LeighAnn Foster, Rich Hollenbach, Andy McCulley, Adam Feldman, Vincent Hill, and Paul, Genevieve and Vivian Prunkel.  Bushes were trimmed, sticks picked up, mulch was spread, weeds were pulled, some flowers were planted.  The church is looking so much better.  Thank you also to those that have signed up to take care of some of the flower beds around the church.

Audit Team
A great big THANK YOU to, first of all, those who volunteered to help...Patty Alderfer, Adria Parsons, Nancy Gansner, Wanda Flint and Marc Erskine.
THANK YOU to Patty, Adria and Nancy who were available to spend the 4 hours on a Saturday conducting the Audit for 2020. Because of their willingness to help, the church did not have to hire anyone at an additional cost.
THANK YOU to Denise Bailey, Debbie Hollenbach, Adam Feldman, and Janet Hill for assisting with the review of our Audit.

Everything worked out well.
--- Sharon Hood, Audit Team Leader

June 2021 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

5/29/2021

Council Notes | May 5, 2021

Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.  Dale Foster led devotions on a healthy church. Minutes of the April 7thregular council meeting were approved as written.

Treasurer’s Report: After a few questions and concerns were addressed, all members approved the treasurer’s report.  With year-to-date income at $76,508.27 (73%) and operating expenses at $33,848.33 (22%) we have a $42,659.94 surplus. (This surplus is only because we carried over last year’s surplus of $35,516.76.)

President’s Report:
Rich Hollenbach reported that we have had our first month following Pastor Mary’s departure and had a mix of different services in April following Easter. Dale asked if all Supply Pastors will be virtual, and as of now the answer is “yes.”
    We welcome Pastor Bryan Penman, our conference Dean of the SEPA Synod to our council meeting tonight representing the pastoral seat on council.
    Gail and Rich attended the 2021 Synod Assembly, a one-day virtual event on April 24ththat ran efficiently throughout the day but lacked the personal contacts and communications of the typical event from other years.  We were reminded to take note of changes we need to make to our constitution about the use of electronic / virtual meetings.
    Rich reiterated that our council meetings are the official records of our decisions following Robert’s Rules of parliamentary procedure.  Although we can discuss items via email, performing votes especially that have financial decisions that are officially documented in our meeting minutes must be carried out in our council meeting.  Should we run into any legal issues, this process protects us.

MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:

Call Committee: Gail Achilles reported that the Call Committee met on April 13, 2021, to discuss the Pastoral Candidate Process.  We questioned the process, we came up with and discussed some ideas that may help with the facts that we have at this time.  We are thankful to Council President Rich Hollenbach for being instrumental in providing Supply Pastors for Sunday Service for the months of May and June 2021, and even filling in himself (great job) leading our congregation for Sunday Service when God called him to serve.
    On a positive note:  Our MSP has only been out there since May 2020.  We are all facing the challenges of a pandemic.  The flow chart from interim pastor to bridge pastor can be a two year process.  So we are moving at a normal pace; it is just unfortunate that our designated (bridge) pastor retired prior to us finding the right pastor for our church.  Plus we all realize that if we could change our application to full time pastor this would broaden our ability to get a full time pastor. Obviously, more candidates are looking for a full time position.

Most importantly, we prayed as a team for patience that God will send the right Pastor for Faith Lutheran Church at the right time.

Christian Education: Melissa Prunkel is setting up a meeting with the “Church Opening Team” to see if we can open up our Sunday Bible School Rooms to continue Bible School for our children now and work out some plans for the summer months. Virtual Sunday Bible School on Wednesdays for the children finished the end of April 2021.  Plans for now are to resume in September 2021.  Adult Forum will be finishing the book of Ephesians by the end of May and will resume in September.  Last day for Monday Night Bible Study is July 12 and will also resume in September.

Communications: Jack Walls mentioned that broadcast technology is good.  He suggested putting church picnic information on website.  Jack will confer with Lauren Allegrezza Krupp to post Church summer events.  Missy asked if there was an increase in church service virtual attendance; no reportable increase at this time.

Finance
There were no finance meetings this month.  Adam Feldman stated that the PPP loan forgiveness application is in process and that the audit team is meeting.  Further information regarding the audit is stated below (See Old Business: Audit Team Update).

Hospitality/Fellowship:  Anne Hutnyk reported we have our upcoming Church Picnic on June 6th.

Property Team: In Vince Hill’s absence, Vice President, Adam Feldman filled in the information in his place.

Sign Replacement – Council took a vote on the Sign Design. All members voted to approve the design. President Rich Hollenbach filled us in with some cost background information: the original insurance quote was $7,900 (We have a $500 deductible so insurance gave $7,400 and $500 came from the person who caused the accident). The cost of the sign is $7,800 with a permit fee of $225, which puts us over $125.00. Adam stated that the $125.00 overage amount can come out of the Property budget. Adam said that the permit paperwork has been submitted and we are waiting on the permit for installation. Jack questioned why a permit fee for just replacing a sign and Adam responded that there were new laws for installing a completely new sign.
New Furnaces – Waiting on permit to be approved. Melissa asked what the permit fee cost. Adam answered that the cost of the permit is $1200.

Sharon Hood reported that the team is sending out Mother’s Day cards. Thank you on behalf of all mothers, Sharon for thinking of us, Shepherding Team!

Jack mentioned that summer is usually a light period of giving. It will be interesting to see as more people come back to in-person church if this bumps up. Rich recommended talking up E-giving in May. Jack will get on that.

Transportation: Dale continues to drop bring donated food to the needy in our congregation and our community. Wonderful outreach, Dale, thank you!

Worship & Music: Rich has filled in May and June Church services with Supply Pastors, and will begin working on July. Even after more and more people come back to in-person church service, we plan to keep a virtual service for the homebound. Rich noted that they will be incorporating different styles of music in the service (Contemporary, Old Time Gospel as examples). Rich is planning to order 6 of the new “All Creation Sings “supplemental hymn books which includes 200 hymns and 2 new communion settings to be reviewed by the Worship and Music team. Rich has money to cover the cost of $150 in the Music Team Budget. Missy asked if we could share its contents. Rich stated, “Yes, we can share through our bulletins and on screen.” As permitted by our licenses.

OLD BUSINESS:

Constitution Update– President Rich Hollenbach contacted Linda Kratz to make sure our constitution language is updated to show all current updates in accordance with the Southeastern PA SYNOD constitution language changes.
Audit Team Update– The Audit Team (Nancy Gansner, Patty Alderfer, and Adria Parsons) performed the internal audit on May 1, 2021 under the guidance of Sharon Hood. Sharon is meeting on Thursday, May 6, 6:30 pm, with Adam Feldman, Janet Hill, Debbie Hollenbach, and Denise Bailey to go over some questions from the team. Sharon, as well as all council members, are very grateful to the team for helping with the financial review. Thanks to you too Sharon!

NEW BUSINESS

Our Korean congregation has decided they will not return for in-person worship. They made this decision to continue their worship and fellowship virtually. They will give us one final check to help with mission work, and they will continue to pray for Faith Lutheran Church.
Check for $2000 from estate of Edna Boehmler was received and will go in named memorial. We are grateful and blessed.

Next Meeting: June 2, 2021 at 7pm.

June 2021 Mustard Seed - Note from Council Secretary & Call Committee Chair

5/29/2021

Hello Faith Family,
This is Gail Achilles, staying connected straight from the Bible and my Jesus loving heart!  I want to wish all the Fathers a wonderful, Happy Father’s Day.  A special shout out and love to my husband and son who are fabulous fathers.  My Father is in Heaven (I like to believe).  He left this world too young; he was only 60.  Happy Father’s Day Dad; I love you so much.  I also want to thank my Father for loving me and sharing the history of Jesus with me and raising me with a strong foundation of faith in our Lord.

My Dad’s life on earth may have been less than perfect, but he had a perfect love for Jesus, for which I am eternally grateful.  From this Daughter’s viewpoint, all Father figures are so importantin shaping the minds and hearts of your loved ones and all the people you encounter here on your time on earth.  Fathers, your children are a gift from God; let His love begin with you.

As we read our bible we learn over and over again the great love that God has for all His children!  For instance, in 1 John 4:9-11 NIV  “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”   Romans 8:28 tells us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  From Deuteronomy 6 in the Old Testament, we learn the Lord’s commandments and God tells us in verses 5-9: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Think about this: there is chaos in your home when your children break the rules. There is chaos in the schools when the students break the rules.  There is chaos in our communities when we break the rules.  Well, there is chaos in the world, when we break our Creator’s laws. We can reason then if we do not know God, then we do not know love, and if we do not love then we are going to have chaos in our world.   Why in the name of Jesus (and I mean that as a prayer) do so many of us forget to put God first in our lives?  Friends, it is not me asking your hearts and minds to open, it is our creator God. God gives us the answer so clearly how to live peacefully among one another.  If we as God’s children follow God’s laws for us, we will know peace and love in our world and in Heaven eternally.

Let us end in prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Love.  We pray that our hearts are open to You and that we will spread Your Word to all through our words and actions.  Also, on this Father’s Day, bless and fill all our Father figures with the wisdom of your Holy Spirit.  We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Thank you and May God be with you!

--Gail Achilles, Council Secretary & Call Committee Chair

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June 2021 Mustard Seed - Announcements

June 2021 Mustard Seed - Council Notes

June 2021 Mustard Seed - Note from Council Secretary & Call Committee Chair

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