Council Notes September 3, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach. Council Minutes of the July council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 66% of the 2025-year, our receipts are about 64% and our expenses are around 65%. Pledged member giving is at 64% and unpledged member giving is at 107%. The deficit for the month is $1,967 and our year-to-date deficit is $21, 056. The Treasurer’s Report from July was approved as written. Thrivent wants our annual financial report, so we need to check with our account rep to verify the legitimacy of this request. Our VBS CD matures next week so will renew with a 7-month CD. The other option is 13 months, which will be too long of a term. A new payroll company is being investigated. Asking the Finance team to review the 3 options and give a recommendation so council can approve them at the October meeting and have it ready to change by end of this year
President’s Report: We had a great and successful VBS week. From what I know, Grace Lutheran in Hatfield continues to discern their future pastoral options. I have been asked and have agreed to be the co-chair of the SEPA Synod Transitional Ministry Development Team (TMDT.) My seminary education is going very well, and I have started my second full semester. My candidacy entrance interview is in November. Thank you to the congregation for the monetary support for my seminary education, it was greatly appreciated.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of August at Faith and Jerusalem. I continue to do shifts at the Lansdale Hospital as the Volunteer Protestant Chaplain. Did VBS at both Faith and Jerusalem. Attended a multi-point pastoral meeting on sharing pastors between congregations. The Health Insurance plans from Portico are changing and we will need to select a new plan for 2026. I attended a Communication workshop and a Stewardship workshop. Upcoming Vacation: September 11-13: sister’s wedding in Milwaukee, WI; September 19-21: wedding in Colorado (Rich will be leading worship); November 23: brother is running the Philadelphia Marathon, and I want to support him. (Rich will be leading worship.)
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: Starting Sunday, September 7, classes will return meeting in the Green Room using Whirl Bible Lectionary Series. Our rotating teachers this school year will be Anna Friedrich, Nancy Gansner, Kate Waldman, and Gail Achilles. Due to half our class being away on September 7, Rally Day has been changed to Sunday, September 14. On September 14, our youth will be presenting a short presentation during 9:30 am Worship Service on the Fruit of the Spirit which they learned over the summer months. All are invited to enjoy the ice cream bar during coffee hour.
Young Adult Group - This month’s meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. (Note: due to summer vacations, the August 17 meeting was cancelled). Our Youth Group lesson will be “Fruit of the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) along with fun games and activities, chosen by our youth.
Parents’ Night Out – Youth Fellowship (PNO-YF): We will be meeting Friday September 19 from 6 pm to 9 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Our theme is “Shine the Light of Jesus” using fun “Space” activities.
Monday Night Bible Study (MNBS): Our small group will resume on Monday September 8 via of zoom from 7 pm to 9 pm. The zoom link is printed in the weekly bulletin and the Mustard Seed. We will discern which study we will move forward with at this first meeting. So bring your suggestions please. Anyone interested in joining, contact Gail Achilles at email [email protected] or cell 267-664-3328, or just pop in on us anytime on the zoom link. All are welcome.
Communications: Check out the new saying on our front sign. Thanks John Taylor!
Finance: The Finance Team will be meeting on 9/18 to start the 2026 budget work.
Hospitality: Working on the new schedule. Need to start planning for the event on Oct 19th.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project.
Mutual Ministry: Will be meeting with the staff in the next few weeks.
Property Team: Our alarm system passed its inspection and subsequently received fire department approval.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project for September: 141 Impact/Impact One for One – Uganda. Social Ministry Project for the year 2025: for January – July, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $353.
Special Funds: Requests: $50 fee to fix Pastor’s W-2 tax form; $136 for the flowers sent by the church for Pastor Joyce Nelson’s funeral; $380 for Admin Assistant’s (Janet) laptop replacement. Council unanimously approved these requests, and they will be sent to Special Funds.
Stewardship: Our Stewardship Program will be kicking off our theme for the year which is “A Listening Faith.”
Worship & Music: Substitute Organist, Pat Keen, will be away on Sept 14th. Pastor Ethan is away Sept 21st so Rich will be leading worship. Need to schedule a meeting in the next few weeks.
OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – There are some new guidelines from the ELCA that will be reviewed and incorporated as needed into our draft constitution.
New Theme for the coming year, “A Listening Faith.” Book: The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction by Adam S. McHugh.
NEW BUSINESS Reminder, that if you have volunteered or signed up for a role for our worship services or other functions, please let Pastor Ethan or a council member know ahead of time if something comes up and you can’t be at church to do the role. It takes a lot of coordination each week for our worship services, and it complicates matters if we must scramble to find replacements that day.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach. Council Minutes of the July council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 66% of the 2025-year, our receipts are about 64% and our expenses are around 65%. Pledged member giving is at 64% and unpledged member giving is at 107%. The deficit for the month is $1,967 and our year-to-date deficit is $21, 056. The Treasurer’s Report from July was approved as written. Thrivent wants our annual financial report, so we need to check with our account rep to verify the legitimacy of this request. Our VBS CD matures next week so will renew with a 7-month CD. The other option is 13 months, which will be too long of a term. A new payroll company is being investigated. Asking the Finance team to review the 3 options and give a recommendation so council can approve them at the October meeting and have it ready to change by end of this year
President’s Report: We had a great and successful VBS week. From what I know, Grace Lutheran in Hatfield continues to discern their future pastoral options. I have been asked and have agreed to be the co-chair of the SEPA Synod Transitional Ministry Development Team (TMDT.) My seminary education is going very well, and I have started my second full semester. My candidacy entrance interview is in November. Thank you to the congregation for the monetary support for my seminary education, it was greatly appreciated.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of August at Faith and Jerusalem. I continue to do shifts at the Lansdale Hospital as the Volunteer Protestant Chaplain. Did VBS at both Faith and Jerusalem. Attended a multi-point pastoral meeting on sharing pastors between congregations. The Health Insurance plans from Portico are changing and we will need to select a new plan for 2026. I attended a Communication workshop and a Stewardship workshop. Upcoming Vacation: September 11-13: sister’s wedding in Milwaukee, WI; September 19-21: wedding in Colorado (Rich will be leading worship); November 23: brother is running the Philadelphia Marathon, and I want to support him. (Rich will be leading worship.)
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: Starting Sunday, September 7, classes will return meeting in the Green Room using Whirl Bible Lectionary Series. Our rotating teachers this school year will be Anna Friedrich, Nancy Gansner, Kate Waldman, and Gail Achilles. Due to half our class being away on September 7, Rally Day has been changed to Sunday, September 14. On September 14, our youth will be presenting a short presentation during 9:30 am Worship Service on the Fruit of the Spirit which they learned over the summer months. All are invited to enjoy the ice cream bar during coffee hour.
Young Adult Group - This month’s meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 21, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm. (Note: due to summer vacations, the August 17 meeting was cancelled). Our Youth Group lesson will be “Fruit of the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) along with fun games and activities, chosen by our youth.
Parents’ Night Out – Youth Fellowship (PNO-YF): We will be meeting Friday September 19 from 6 pm to 9 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Our theme is “Shine the Light of Jesus” using fun “Space” activities.
Monday Night Bible Study (MNBS): Our small group will resume on Monday September 8 via of zoom from 7 pm to 9 pm. The zoom link is printed in the weekly bulletin and the Mustard Seed. We will discern which study we will move forward with at this first meeting. So bring your suggestions please. Anyone interested in joining, contact Gail Achilles at email [email protected] or cell 267-664-3328, or just pop in on us anytime on the zoom link. All are welcome.
Communications: Check out the new saying on our front sign. Thanks John Taylor!
Finance: The Finance Team will be meeting on 9/18 to start the 2026 budget work.
Hospitality: Working on the new schedule. Need to start planning for the event on Oct 19th.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project.
Mutual Ministry: Will be meeting with the staff in the next few weeks.
Property Team: Our alarm system passed its inspection and subsequently received fire department approval.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project for September: 141 Impact/Impact One for One – Uganda. Social Ministry Project for the year 2025: for January – July, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $353.
Special Funds: Requests: $50 fee to fix Pastor’s W-2 tax form; $136 for the flowers sent by the church for Pastor Joyce Nelson’s funeral; $380 for Admin Assistant’s (Janet) laptop replacement. Council unanimously approved these requests, and they will be sent to Special Funds.
Stewardship: Our Stewardship Program will be kicking off our theme for the year which is “A Listening Faith.”
Worship & Music: Substitute Organist, Pat Keen, will be away on Sept 14th. Pastor Ethan is away Sept 21st so Rich will be leading worship. Need to schedule a meeting in the next few weeks.
OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – There are some new guidelines from the ELCA that will be reviewed and incorporated as needed into our draft constitution.
New Theme for the coming year, “A Listening Faith.” Book: The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction by Adam S. McHugh.
NEW BUSINESS Reminder, that if you have volunteered or signed up for a role for our worship services or other functions, please let Pastor Ethan or a council member know ahead of time if something comes up and you can’t be at church to do the role. It takes a lot of coordination each week for our worship services, and it complicates matters if we must scramble to find replacements that day.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 7:00 PM.
