Council Notes January 8, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach. Minutes of the December regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: Highlights of the December Treasurer’s report: We finished off the year with half the deficit we expected, this is partly because we budgeted for a full year’s salary for a music director but mostly because the income was over $12,000 higher than we budgeted; We replaced the remaining HVAC units, using the money in our HVAC fund as well as the proceeds from liquidating half of our Merck Stock. The last units were replaced within the last couple of weeks and the final bill will be paid in early 2025; Ended 2024 with a budget deficit of $14,660.26 rather than the planned $32,274.
The Treasurer’s Report was approved as written.
President’s Report: We had a successful Cantata and Hanging of the Greens service and a beautiful Christmas Eve service this year. We have almost completed the replacement of all our HVAC systems in our building. We ended the year with a substantially less deficit than what we had planned but we continued to use our savings to fund our church.
Pastor’s Report: Continues to lead worship for both Faith and Jerusalem weekly. Pastor is away on vacation this week.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School – Our current teacher rotation until Miss Nancy returns in April 2025 is Miss Anna, Miss Kate, and Miss Gail. Stay warm in the sun and enjoy Miss Nancy; you will be missed. The Bible lesson and teacher for each week is posted on the Sunday school bulletin board located in the hallway.
Youth Ministry (ages 12 to 17) – will meet on Sunday, January 19, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Our youth will work on beautifying the fellowship hall and tree for the winter season and will discuss where they experience God’s presence in the cold days of winter.
Parents’ Night Out – Youth Fellowship (PNO-YF) Our next two events are on January 17 and February 14, Friday, 6 pm to 9 pm. Our January 17th theme is “A New Year growing closer to Jesus through Hope, Renewal, and Joy exploring God’s Winter Wonderland.”
Monday Night Bible Study (MNBS): Our group met via zoom on Monday, January 6, and chose to study “The Parables of Jesus, Deeper Connections.” We have studied the Deeper Connections of the Life of Jesus and the Prayers of Jesus, and both helped us grow in our faith journey with Jesus Christ. All are welcome to join this study which will officially begin with session 1 the week of January 13 and be followed by a discussion on January 20. Information and zoom link is in the Mustard Seed and Weekly Bulletin.
Fellowship: Mary Lou and Anne will be getting together to make a schedule and come up with some ideas. Interested in getting some input from other congregation members. Should be getting together within the next couple of weeks. Some ideas were Merrymead Farm and a game night.
Finance: Since there were no revisions made to the original preliminary version of the 2025 Budget, no discussion or vote was required. Inquiry was made into the possibility of getting a Venmo account for the church.
Fundraising: Emily Gallo scrapbooking – 11/29 & 11/30/2024: $250 and Cookie can sale: $300.
Hospitality: The 2025 schedule will be posted on Sunday. Will be coordinating the congregational meeting breakfast.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project.
Nominating Team: Five current council members will continue into 2025. Three have terms ending, two are eligible for a second term while one is not able to run again-Gary and Linda agreed to run for another term. Two additional positions are open (can have up to nine members, only had eight in 2024).
Property Management: ArCoNet Music Recital on Sunday Feb. 2nd at 6pm in the Faith Sanctuary with practice on Saturday, Feb 1st 10am-4pm. (This was cancelled after the council meeting.)
Property: We were experiencing problems with Furnace #3 for the offices. Rich and Adam spoke and decided not to wait until spring to replace the last two units since we have the money already and IT Landes has the equipment. IT Landes has since installed those furnaces and will come back to hook up the air conditioners on them when the weather is better.
Social Ministry: January - “Hugs for Soldiers” through sending “thinking of you” cards. These will be signed by the congregation on January 12 and then sent. January – November 2025 - A “noisy can offering (change)” for God’s Global Barnyard will be collected the third Sunday of each month from January through November. In December, the Sunday School children will decide what animals to donate based on how much money is collected.
Worship & Music: The full Prayer List will be in the Mustard Seed with a reduced list in the weekly bulletin.
OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: still working on addressing/incorporating council feedback.
NEW BUSINESS
Clarence Harris donated a small freezer to the church when he moved, and it is being used for the Wawa food instead of the kitchen freezer. Linda to send a thank you note to him!
Faith Congregational Meeting, Sunday, January 26, following worship.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 7pm. Voting will take place for officers of the council.
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach. Minutes of the December regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: Highlights of the December Treasurer’s report: We finished off the year with half the deficit we expected, this is partly because we budgeted for a full year’s salary for a music director but mostly because the income was over $12,000 higher than we budgeted; We replaced the remaining HVAC units, using the money in our HVAC fund as well as the proceeds from liquidating half of our Merck Stock. The last units were replaced within the last couple of weeks and the final bill will be paid in early 2025; Ended 2024 with a budget deficit of $14,660.26 rather than the planned $32,274.
The Treasurer’s Report was approved as written.
President’s Report: We had a successful Cantata and Hanging of the Greens service and a beautiful Christmas Eve service this year. We have almost completed the replacement of all our HVAC systems in our building. We ended the year with a substantially less deficit than what we had planned but we continued to use our savings to fund our church.
Pastor’s Report: Continues to lead worship for both Faith and Jerusalem weekly. Pastor is away on vacation this week.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School – Our current teacher rotation until Miss Nancy returns in April 2025 is Miss Anna, Miss Kate, and Miss Gail. Stay warm in the sun and enjoy Miss Nancy; you will be missed. The Bible lesson and teacher for each week is posted on the Sunday school bulletin board located in the hallway.
Youth Ministry (ages 12 to 17) – will meet on Sunday, January 19, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Our youth will work on beautifying the fellowship hall and tree for the winter season and will discuss where they experience God’s presence in the cold days of winter.
Parents’ Night Out – Youth Fellowship (PNO-YF) Our next two events are on January 17 and February 14, Friday, 6 pm to 9 pm. Our January 17th theme is “A New Year growing closer to Jesus through Hope, Renewal, and Joy exploring God’s Winter Wonderland.”
Monday Night Bible Study (MNBS): Our group met via zoom on Monday, January 6, and chose to study “The Parables of Jesus, Deeper Connections.” We have studied the Deeper Connections of the Life of Jesus and the Prayers of Jesus, and both helped us grow in our faith journey with Jesus Christ. All are welcome to join this study which will officially begin with session 1 the week of January 13 and be followed by a discussion on January 20. Information and zoom link is in the Mustard Seed and Weekly Bulletin.
Fellowship: Mary Lou and Anne will be getting together to make a schedule and come up with some ideas. Interested in getting some input from other congregation members. Should be getting together within the next couple of weeks. Some ideas were Merrymead Farm and a game night.
Finance: Since there were no revisions made to the original preliminary version of the 2025 Budget, no discussion or vote was required. Inquiry was made into the possibility of getting a Venmo account for the church.
Fundraising: Emily Gallo scrapbooking – 11/29 & 11/30/2024: $250 and Cookie can sale: $300.
Hospitality: The 2025 schedule will be posted on Sunday. Will be coordinating the congregational meeting breakfast.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project.
Nominating Team: Five current council members will continue into 2025. Three have terms ending, two are eligible for a second term while one is not able to run again-Gary and Linda agreed to run for another term. Two additional positions are open (can have up to nine members, only had eight in 2024).
Property Management: ArCoNet Music Recital on Sunday Feb. 2nd at 6pm in the Faith Sanctuary with practice on Saturday, Feb 1st 10am-4pm. (This was cancelled after the council meeting.)
Property: We were experiencing problems with Furnace #3 for the offices. Rich and Adam spoke and decided not to wait until spring to replace the last two units since we have the money already and IT Landes has the equipment. IT Landes has since installed those furnaces and will come back to hook up the air conditioners on them when the weather is better.
Social Ministry: January - “Hugs for Soldiers” through sending “thinking of you” cards. These will be signed by the congregation on January 12 and then sent. January – November 2025 - A “noisy can offering (change)” for God’s Global Barnyard will be collected the third Sunday of each month from January through November. In December, the Sunday School children will decide what animals to donate based on how much money is collected.
Worship & Music: The full Prayer List will be in the Mustard Seed with a reduced list in the weekly bulletin.
OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: still working on addressing/incorporating council feedback.
NEW BUSINESS
Clarence Harris donated a small freezer to the church when he moved, and it is being used for the Wawa food instead of the kitchen freezer. Linda to send a thank you note to him!
Faith Congregational Meeting, Sunday, January 26, following worship.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 7pm. Voting will take place for officers of the council.
