Council Notes: May 6, 2020
Council was called to order by President Gary Apgar. Opening devotions were led by Rich Hollenbach.
President’s Report: Univest will now process our PPP loan so our application with the ELCA Credit Union was cancelled as it is best to work with a local bank where we have an account. Also heard from our Dean, Pastor Penman who will be contacting our Call Committee chair, Carol Taylor for the next steps of the process, once the Financial Review has been completed.
Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the regular April council meeting were distributed to the council for review and approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report:
With year to date income at $67,562 (44%) and operating expenses at $36,046.30 (24%) we have a $31,515.70 surplus.
Receipts are on track for the pledged envelopes but at half for the non-pledged. Overall, we are over for the month due in part to lower expenses with not being in the building. But the values on our accounts are down by $30K due to market impact of COVID-19. The treasurer’s report was accepted and approved by council.
Pastor’s Report:
Under the most unusual and extraordinary times most of us have experienced in our life-times as a nation as well as a congregation, I began my service at Faith as Bridge Pastor to provide basic pastoral and administrative services as the Covid-19 pandemic has swept through the world. In the time we’d ‘normally’ be celebrating the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, we found ourselves sitting in our homes meeting in a 2-dimensional world in front of our i-pads or laptops. I’m very encouraged by the cooperation and communication that I’ve experienced. Honestly, I was concerned how this would go since I know very few congregation members from ‘in person’ interactions. However, things have been going as smoothly as I could have possibly imagined.
In addition, I assisted in processing the PPP loan available from the federal government to provide financial assistance to small businesses and non-profits. Thanks especially to Denise Bailey, Gary Apgar, Deb Hollenbach and Janet Hill for pulling together all these figures and paperwork. It was a monumental achievement in a confusing process with a very tight deadline!
MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education: The church picnic scheduled for June 7 at Spring Valley Park has been cancelled. We are investigating licensing for virtual VBS, looks to be expensive at $10 per child.
Communications: Sunday worship services are posted on our Facebook page. Rich will ask Janet to include the zoom link in the emails when the bulletin is sent out as some folks are having issues with the link in the bulletin.
Evangelism: Sixteen hundred dollars was carried over from 2019. $800 was sent to Manna and $800 was sent to Keystone to help with their needs at this time. An anonymous donor gave $600 to be used for Evangelism in 2020.
Finance: Debbie Hollenbach is the new Finance team chair. Finance meeting was held on April 13th, Financial Review meetings for the Call are in progress. Council approved applying for a PPP loan and Gary would submit the application. Ask Debbie to touch base with Tracey Beasley weekly on the review.
Fundraising: Remember Giant gift cards!
Property Team: The lawn care contract was signed this week. Same as 2019.
Property Management Team:
Shepherding Ministry: Keep your eye on the mail for more cards! Money for stamps has been taken out of the Boehmler memorial account for 2020 and will add a budget line for 2021.
Social Ministry: Since we are unable to physically go to our church building, we can still donate to:
Stewardship: We need to encourage e-giving! How can we target the right audience? Unpledged giving is down by half (pledged is on track). There are still folks who don’t know how to enroll. Send reminder cards and then have follow up calls.
Transportation: Dale continues to drop off Wawa food to people in our congregation and the community.
Worship & Music: Virtual Zoom church worship services continue with the recorded session posted on our Facebook page. Need to work on the music as it’s not working well either hearing it or knowing when to sing. We have planned out the music for the month of May. We will also be removing the second lesson, adding the Hymn of the Day and distribution music for reflection after communion.
OLD BUSINESS:
Items in Review for May:
NEW BUSINESS
Next Meeting: June 3 at 7pm.
Council was called to order by President Gary Apgar. Opening devotions were led by Rich Hollenbach.
President’s Report: Univest will now process our PPP loan so our application with the ELCA Credit Union was cancelled as it is best to work with a local bank where we have an account. Also heard from our Dean, Pastor Penman who will be contacting our Call Committee chair, Carol Taylor for the next steps of the process, once the Financial Review has been completed.
Secretary’s Report: The minutes of the regular April council meeting were distributed to the council for review and approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report:
With year to date income at $67,562 (44%) and operating expenses at $36,046.30 (24%) we have a $31,515.70 surplus.
Receipts are on track for the pledged envelopes but at half for the non-pledged. Overall, we are over for the month due in part to lower expenses with not being in the building. But the values on our accounts are down by $30K due to market impact of COVID-19. The treasurer’s report was accepted and approved by council.
Pastor’s Report:
Under the most unusual and extraordinary times most of us have experienced in our life-times as a nation as well as a congregation, I began my service at Faith as Bridge Pastor to provide basic pastoral and administrative services as the Covid-19 pandemic has swept through the world. In the time we’d ‘normally’ be celebrating the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, we found ourselves sitting in our homes meeting in a 2-dimensional world in front of our i-pads or laptops. I’m very encouraged by the cooperation and communication that I’ve experienced. Honestly, I was concerned how this would go since I know very few congregation members from ‘in person’ interactions. However, things have been going as smoothly as I could have possibly imagined.
In addition, I assisted in processing the PPP loan available from the federal government to provide financial assistance to small businesses and non-profits. Thanks especially to Denise Bailey, Gary Apgar, Deb Hollenbach and Janet Hill for pulling together all these figures and paperwork. It was a monumental achievement in a confusing process with a very tight deadline!
MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education: The church picnic scheduled for June 7 at Spring Valley Park has been cancelled. We are investigating licensing for virtual VBS, looks to be expensive at $10 per child.
Communications: Sunday worship services are posted on our Facebook page. Rich will ask Janet to include the zoom link in the emails when the bulletin is sent out as some folks are having issues with the link in the bulletin.
Evangelism: Sixteen hundred dollars was carried over from 2019. $800 was sent to Manna and $800 was sent to Keystone to help with their needs at this time. An anonymous donor gave $600 to be used for Evangelism in 2020.
Finance: Debbie Hollenbach is the new Finance team chair. Finance meeting was held on April 13th, Financial Review meetings for the Call are in progress. Council approved applying for a PPP loan and Gary would submit the application. Ask Debbie to touch base with Tracey Beasley weekly on the review.
Fundraising: Remember Giant gift cards!
Property Team: The lawn care contract was signed this week. Same as 2019.
Property Management Team:
- We let our townhouse neighbor’s use our parking lot to host a food truck. When we have outside people use our facility inside or outside, we need to make our no alcohol policy clear. We need to update the policy for our fellowship hall rental to cover the parking lot. Pastor Mary volunteered to investigate it and will follow up with Janet. Should include having someone from the church on site during the event.
- Update on the Sign - Adam checked with the township and our new sign must be like what we had before (can’t be LED).
Shepherding Ministry: Keep your eye on the mail for more cards! Money for stamps has been taken out of the Boehmler memorial account for 2020 and will add a budget line for 2021.
Social Ministry: Since we are unable to physically go to our church building, we can still donate to:
- Manna on main street– https://mannaonmain.org/give-money/donate-now
- Keystone Opportunity Center– https://Keystoneopportunity.org
Stewardship: We need to encourage e-giving! How can we target the right audience? Unpledged giving is down by half (pledged is on track). There are still folks who don’t know how to enroll. Send reminder cards and then have follow up calls.
Transportation: Dale continues to drop off Wawa food to people in our congregation and the community.
Worship & Music: Virtual Zoom church worship services continue with the recorded session posted on our Facebook page. Need to work on the music as it’s not working well either hearing it or knowing when to sing. We have planned out the music for the month of May. We will also be removing the second lesson, adding the Hymn of the Day and distribution music for reflection after communion.
OLD BUSINESS:
Items in Review for May:
- Update on Financial Review. We did start our financial check with Tracey Beasley. Tracey is reviewing our financial records for the WELCA account and the Fundraising account. She will then be looking at the General Fund account. Janet Hill is her contact person.
- Update on constitution.Pastor Mary is checking on our constitution with the Synod.
- Proposed Acceptable Computer Use Policy -Distributed in November to read. Still pending additions pertaining to PCI Compliant language. Rich and Jack to discuss additional wording needed.
- Update on deacons and new care. Pastor Mary with work with the Deacons.
- Fellowship: Request for a new projector for outdoor movies. Deferred until we can meet in person again.
NEW BUSINESS
- Music in virtual Church. Can music be prerecorded? See Worship & Music.
- Shepherding Ministry, next mission is to send “thinking of you” cards.
- PPP loan - See President’s report
- Pastor G’s exit interview was completed.
- Reopening of the church? Will have to wait for Pennsylvania and ELCA/Synod guidance and approval before we can discuss this topic.
Next Meeting: June 3 at 7pm.