Council Notes July 8, 2026
Council was called to order by President Anne Hutnyk. Minutes of the June regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 50% of the budget year, Pledged Member giving is at 55.92% and Unpledged Member giving is at 83.31%. Loose plate giving is very decreased at 18.31% of expectations. This looks like we need to invite people to join us at services! But Outreach should be our goal as it is part of the Great Commission! Looking at the month, it is noted that we still have not produced a good system for Nueva Jerusalen to pay their rental money on time. The $1500 listed under building use is for the previous month, and we are still waiting for their current rental money. We will be closely monitoring expenses relating to water, sewer, electricity, and natural gas as well as paper products like toilet paper and trifold towels. June ended with an operating deficit of $526.56 and a total deficit of $4,164.83. Remember that our deficit is much less than expected due to the generosity of people who have given gifts to our General Fund in memory of Carol Taylor. We are overwhelmed by their response. All members voted to approve the Treasurer’s Report.
President’s Report: Church picnic 2026 is in the books, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to all who made it possible. For 2027, possibly review location, date, and combining with Jerusalem. The finance team held a very in-depth and detailed discussion on June 18 with regard to costs we’re incurring as a result of renting out our facilities to Nueva Jerusalen church. We will be meeting with Nueva Jerusalen at the end of July to discuss concerns and increased costs. There will be no council meeting in August.
Pastor’s Report: Presided at worship at Faith and Jerusalem Lutheran. Continue to provide pastoral care for members of both congregations. I continue to participate in a clergy text study, monthly clergy meetings, first-call theological education meetings, and SEPA Synod multi-congregational peer group meetings. At Jerusalem, I attended their council meeting, and I am helping to plan their 200th Anniversary Celebration scheduled for September 19. Meeting with Pastor Wayne Shelor about restarting conversations about shared ministries. For Nueva Jerusalen’s worship at Faith, Adam, Janet and I continue to help with the logistics. We continue with our book study “A Listening Faith”. The Faith Education dinner is now paused for the summer. This continues as part of the confirmation program.
Thanks to Pastor Dee Littleton for leading worship on June 21 while I was attending a conference about children in worship. Pastor Lauren Bruno from St. John’s in Sellersville and I are planning a pulpit swap for July 19. I will be volunteering at Bear Creek Lutheran Camp in the evenings from July 12-17; hence, working remotely.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday School.
Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) (Ages 3 to 11) – Our next monthly event is scheduled for September 18.
Young Adult Group (Ages 12 to 17) - Our next meeting, scheduled for Sunday, September 20.
Monday Night Bible Study – We concluded our study “Now and not yet.” We will resume with a new study in September.
Liability Waivers – We are currently working on creating a form to sign that would allow for various needs with regard to youth programs (Faith-sponsored events.)
Finance: The finance team met on June 18 to discuss our current operating costs now that Nueva Jersalen has been here for almost 4 months. Taxes: Faith Lutheran Church is a tax-exempt entity, but since we have a mortgage, the federal government considers rental monies to be income which are taxed. A new savings account will be set up at Univest, and a designed amount of money will be placed in monthly from the rental fees to cover the taxes and fees for tax submission. Current and projected expenses: Adam researched the following costs – PECO, Water, Sewer, and Supplies. It is projected that our expenses have increased by approximately $1000/month.
Hospitality: Coffee Lites throughout the summer except for an ice cream social on July 19.
Long-Range Planning: Pastor is meeting with Pastor Bradley Gow, head of the Synod’s vitality team, about come out and talking with the long-range planning team.Mutual Ministry: Will be starting the interview process in August.
Property Management Team: We had some issues when Nueva Jerusalen requested the fellowship hall for a wedding while another event was already planned. The scrapbooking group tried to be hospitable by shortening their event. Unfortunately, their set-up and scrapbooking items were not left untouched, some of which could have been dangerous to children. In the future, guidelines on the use and care of the items in our building, as well as set-up and clean-up will be provided.
Property Team: The alarm system was tested and approved.
Social Ministry: We continue to collect funds in the noisy can for 141 Impact on the third Sunday of each month. In July we continue to collect personal care items for the Coatesville VA Medical Center. See the posterboard in the foyer for the items needed and place donations in the purple bins. Contact Nancy Gansner with any questions. Our next Feast Incarnate dinner at University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia will be held on September 15. Please look for collections of food on the posterboard. In August sign-up sheets will be available for making meatloaf and cake, as well as serving at the event.
Special Funds: $80 was taken from “undesignated memorials” for Pastor’s new microphone.
Stewardship: Theme is “Building a Culture of Generosity.”
Worship & Music: The Worship & Music Team meeting was held on June 16. You’ll be noticing some changes in the services in the future, bringing back some of our previous worship practices. Music selection continues by Pastor, Janet, and Adam. Adam is also building a library of music to use. Rich will be copying the ELW MIDI files to the church’s computer.
OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – Rich will continue to work on this. The end of the initial 4-month lease for Nueva Jerusalen is in July. The Finance Team met on June 18. Discussions also included what is working well and where improvements are needed. Pastor is scheduling a meeting with our Executive Team and Nueva Jerusalen for the end of July to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS The Worship & Music Team and Finance Team have requested approval for $265 streaming fee for CCLI and One License for 2026. Council approved,
Another scrap-booking group (wife of Faith member Mark Murset) has inquired about the cost to use the fellowship hall, kitchen and adult forum room for a two-day event (date TBD). The Finance Team (based on what the other scrap-booking groups pay to rent the space) recommends $150/day. Council approved.
Discussion topics for meeting with Nueva Jerusalen:
* Their church’s calendar must be submitted to the church office at least a week before the start of the month. In return, Janet will provide our calendar to them as soon as available (during mailing of the Mustard Seed).
* Use of the space is outlined in the lease. If there are additional requests or changes to the normal pattern, the change/request must be submitted to Adam and Janet at least two weeks in advance.
* The team at Faith will create a document outlining expectations and guidelines for their team to review and sign-off on, and a checklist for a final walk-thru each time they leave the facility (spaces cleaned, lights off, no food out, etc.). They will need to assign someone to this task and have back-ups in place.
* The recommendation for the new terms of the lease include raising the rate from $1500/month to $3000/month (to cover costs and taxes). Payment is due by the first of the month. Should the payment be later than 5 days, an additional fee of $100/day will be assessed. Council approved. Next step is to create the checklist and guidelines, then schedule meeting to discuss with their executive team by the end of July.
Important Upcoming Dates: September 13: Rally Day; September 15: Feast Incarnate Dinner; September 17: Finance Team Meeting; September 18: Parents Night Out; September 19: Jerusalem Lutheran’s 200th Anniversary Celebration; September 20: YAF.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 7pm.
Council was called to order by President Anne Hutnyk. Minutes of the June regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 50% of the budget year, Pledged Member giving is at 55.92% and Unpledged Member giving is at 83.31%. Loose plate giving is very decreased at 18.31% of expectations. This looks like we need to invite people to join us at services! But Outreach should be our goal as it is part of the Great Commission! Looking at the month, it is noted that we still have not produced a good system for Nueva Jerusalen to pay their rental money on time. The $1500 listed under building use is for the previous month, and we are still waiting for their current rental money. We will be closely monitoring expenses relating to water, sewer, electricity, and natural gas as well as paper products like toilet paper and trifold towels. June ended with an operating deficit of $526.56 and a total deficit of $4,164.83. Remember that our deficit is much less than expected due to the generosity of people who have given gifts to our General Fund in memory of Carol Taylor. We are overwhelmed by their response. All members voted to approve the Treasurer’s Report.
President’s Report: Church picnic 2026 is in the books, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Thanks to all who made it possible. For 2027, possibly review location, date, and combining with Jerusalem. The finance team held a very in-depth and detailed discussion on June 18 with regard to costs we’re incurring as a result of renting out our facilities to Nueva Jerusalen church. We will be meeting with Nueva Jerusalen at the end of July to discuss concerns and increased costs. There will be no council meeting in August.
Pastor’s Report: Presided at worship at Faith and Jerusalem Lutheran. Continue to provide pastoral care for members of both congregations. I continue to participate in a clergy text study, monthly clergy meetings, first-call theological education meetings, and SEPA Synod multi-congregational peer group meetings. At Jerusalem, I attended their council meeting, and I am helping to plan their 200th Anniversary Celebration scheduled for September 19. Meeting with Pastor Wayne Shelor about restarting conversations about shared ministries. For Nueva Jerusalen’s worship at Faith, Adam, Janet and I continue to help with the logistics. We continue with our book study “A Listening Faith”. The Faith Education dinner is now paused for the summer. This continues as part of the confirmation program.
Thanks to Pastor Dee Littleton for leading worship on June 21 while I was attending a conference about children in worship. Pastor Lauren Bruno from St. John’s in Sellersville and I are planning a pulpit swap for July 19. I will be volunteering at Bear Creek Lutheran Camp in the evenings from July 12-17; hence, working remotely.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday School.
Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) (Ages 3 to 11) – Our next monthly event is scheduled for September 18.
Young Adult Group (Ages 12 to 17) - Our next meeting, scheduled for Sunday, September 20.
Monday Night Bible Study – We concluded our study “Now and not yet.” We will resume with a new study in September.
Liability Waivers – We are currently working on creating a form to sign that would allow for various needs with regard to youth programs (Faith-sponsored events.)
Finance: The finance team met on June 18 to discuss our current operating costs now that Nueva Jersalen has been here for almost 4 months. Taxes: Faith Lutheran Church is a tax-exempt entity, but since we have a mortgage, the federal government considers rental monies to be income which are taxed. A new savings account will be set up at Univest, and a designed amount of money will be placed in monthly from the rental fees to cover the taxes and fees for tax submission. Current and projected expenses: Adam researched the following costs – PECO, Water, Sewer, and Supplies. It is projected that our expenses have increased by approximately $1000/month.
Hospitality: Coffee Lites throughout the summer except for an ice cream social on July 19.
Long-Range Planning: Pastor is meeting with Pastor Bradley Gow, head of the Synod’s vitality team, about come out and talking with the long-range planning team.Mutual Ministry: Will be starting the interview process in August.
Property Management Team: We had some issues when Nueva Jerusalen requested the fellowship hall for a wedding while another event was already planned. The scrapbooking group tried to be hospitable by shortening their event. Unfortunately, their set-up and scrapbooking items were not left untouched, some of which could have been dangerous to children. In the future, guidelines on the use and care of the items in our building, as well as set-up and clean-up will be provided.
Property Team: The alarm system was tested and approved.
Social Ministry: We continue to collect funds in the noisy can for 141 Impact on the third Sunday of each month. In July we continue to collect personal care items for the Coatesville VA Medical Center. See the posterboard in the foyer for the items needed and place donations in the purple bins. Contact Nancy Gansner with any questions. Our next Feast Incarnate dinner at University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia will be held on September 15. Please look for collections of food on the posterboard. In August sign-up sheets will be available for making meatloaf and cake, as well as serving at the event.
Special Funds: $80 was taken from “undesignated memorials” for Pastor’s new microphone.
Stewardship: Theme is “Building a Culture of Generosity.”
Worship & Music: The Worship & Music Team meeting was held on June 16. You’ll be noticing some changes in the services in the future, bringing back some of our previous worship practices. Music selection continues by Pastor, Janet, and Adam. Adam is also building a library of music to use. Rich will be copying the ELW MIDI files to the church’s computer.
OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – Rich will continue to work on this. The end of the initial 4-month lease for Nueva Jerusalen is in July. The Finance Team met on June 18. Discussions also included what is working well and where improvements are needed. Pastor is scheduling a meeting with our Executive Team and Nueva Jerusalen for the end of July to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS The Worship & Music Team and Finance Team have requested approval for $265 streaming fee for CCLI and One License for 2026. Council approved,
Another scrap-booking group (wife of Faith member Mark Murset) has inquired about the cost to use the fellowship hall, kitchen and adult forum room for a two-day event (date TBD). The Finance Team (based on what the other scrap-booking groups pay to rent the space) recommends $150/day. Council approved.
Discussion topics for meeting with Nueva Jerusalen:
* Their church’s calendar must be submitted to the church office at least a week before the start of the month. In return, Janet will provide our calendar to them as soon as available (during mailing of the Mustard Seed).
* Use of the space is outlined in the lease. If there are additional requests or changes to the normal pattern, the change/request must be submitted to Adam and Janet at least two weeks in advance.
* The team at Faith will create a document outlining expectations and guidelines for their team to review and sign-off on, and a checklist for a final walk-thru each time they leave the facility (spaces cleaned, lights off, no food out, etc.). They will need to assign someone to this task and have back-ups in place.
* The recommendation for the new terms of the lease include raising the rate from $1500/month to $3000/month (to cover costs and taxes). Payment is due by the first of the month. Should the payment be later than 5 days, an additional fee of $100/day will be assessed. Council approved. Next step is to create the checklist and guidelines, then schedule meeting to discuss with their executive team by the end of July.
Important Upcoming Dates: September 13: Rally Day; September 15: Feast Incarnate Dinner; September 17: Finance Team Meeting; September 18: Parents Night Out; September 19: Jerusalem Lutheran’s 200th Anniversary Celebration; September 20: YAF.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 7pm.
