Council Minutes March 12, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.
Meeting with our Thrivent Reps: David Kratz, who has been our very capable Thrivent financial representative for Faith Lutheran church and some of our congregational members, is retiring after 40 years. Dave said that it has been his pleasure to serve us with our financial needs. Our church council thanked him for his past service and wished him a good retirement. He introduced Amanda Schulenberg, who will be taking over for him. Amanda told us that she loves finances and will always be dedicated to her clientele. The former Thrivent office location has been closed, and Amanda will provide us with the new address shortly. Our new Thrivent Financial Adviser Amanda Schulenberg can be reached at 215-368-4888.
Gail lead devotions on Psalm 32. Minutes of the February regular council meeting was approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 16% of the year, Member Giving Pledged is on track at 15.28% with Member Giving Unpledged at 21% and Loose Plate Offering at 22.43%. We had a donation of $370 from the Emily Gallo Scrapbook Fundraiser, $108 in Thrivent Choice Dollars and $260.82 in Merck Dividends. Our biggest expense was with the snow removal line at $750 for a total of $1,100 for the year ($100 more than budgeted). The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: We had a nice, albeit small Ash Wednesday service. We continue to plan our Holy Week services (See below) especially our Palm Sunday service. We have confirmed our new part-time organist, and she has started practicing.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of February at Faith and Jerusalem. Our
last Faith Education Dinner was on March 9, 2025. The focus was on the prophets of the Old Testament. Next dinner will be on April 13, 2025, at 5:30pm. Our participation in the Nourishing Vocation Project continued March 5, 2025, with the beginning of Lent. Our focus for this Lent is on values. Our theme for Lent is “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” Small groups have also begun. Our Lenten study on the Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer began on March 6, 2025. In conversation with the president of Feast Incarnate about hosting/sponsoring a meal at University Lutheran Church Philadelphia. We will be sponsoring the meal on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Debbie Hollenbach, Anne Hutnyk, and I are in the planning stage to provide a total of 90 meals. Met with Pastor Nancy to discuss greater collaboration between Faith and Grace. We plan to collaborate during Lent. First Holy Communion for 2 to 3 persons is planned for Easter Sunday.
MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
Sunday School - For Palm Sunday, April 13, during Sunday School we will read the Resurrection Story using the Resurrection eggs and have an egg hunt. There will be no Sunday School on Easter, April 20.
Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) – Next two events are scheduled on Fridays, March 14 - Lenten Theme, and April 11 – Easter/Resurrection Theme, 6pm to 9 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - For this month’s meeting, we are having a bowling event on March 23 at Earl Bowl Lanes in place of the March 16 meeting. An email was sent out on Feb 18 to see who was interested in attending. So far, we have ten coming for fun and fellowship and a striking good time. A second email was sent out on March 10th to parents of youth in this age group with all the details, and to sign-up if interested. The more the merrier.
VBS 2025- This year’s VBS, scheduled for Monday through Friday, August 4 to 8, 9 am to 12 noon, is “True North, Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.” An email was sent out on March 10th to past volunteers with more details of VBS stations requiring leaders and assistants and the need for Crew leaders and assistants to make this year’s VBS fun and successful in bringing Jesus to the youth in our community. The email also notes that there will be a meeting for volunteer sign-up and those just wanting more information on Sunday April 6 after Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall. Please look into your hearts and volunteer your God-given gifts to this year’s VBS. As noted last year, we had an awesome group of volunteers in 2024! Feel free to contact me anytime by email [email protected] or text at 267-664-3328 if you would like to sign up for a volunteer position.
Communications: Holy Week Announcements
Hospitality: Palm Sunday Luncheon - will be putting out a signup sheet for finger sandwiches and salads, and we will supply a cake for the anniversary; need Low-carb/no sugar items for the bishop.Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Team: Spring Cleaning Day is scheduled for Saturday April 5 from 9am to noon.
Property Management: Hedwig House has requested to use the Fellowship Hall to host their Annual Bingo event once again, this year on Thursday, July 17th.
Shepherding: Sharon needs to talk to Beth Schoening about her taking over this ministry.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – February (Sharon Hood/Debbie Hollenbach) We made our goal of 20 “soup bags” containing 3 cans of soup and crackers. These and additional food were delivered to Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton for a total of 83 pounds.
Social Ministry Project – March (MaryLou Foster) The congregation is being asked to make monetary donations for Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA), an organization that offers safety and wellness for vulnerable youth who may be experiencing homelessness and who have survived trafficking.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January & February, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $77. This collection is taken on the third Sunday in each month through November.
Special Funds: Faith’s portion of Rich Hollenbach’s ELCA candidacy fee of $650 taken from the Mathias Memorial was approved.
Worship & Music: Meeting held on March 4th to review worship from Ash Wednesday through Pentecost. Maundy Thursday Service will be held at Jerusalem at 7pm. Good Friday Service at Grace at 12:00pm. Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Faith will be held at 7pm (not 7:30pm). Easter Vigil Service at 7:30am and Easter Worship Service at 9am.
OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. Also seeking guidance from SEPA Synod on the review and approval process.
Faith 60th Anniversary on Palm Sunday, April 13th Planning continues.
Discussion with Grace Leadership – Pastor Ethan informed us that Pastor Nancy Raabe, Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield, is retiring early June 2025. Our Synod Dean Julie Dewerth reached out to Pastor Ethan to have a meeting with him along with council members from Grace to work out transition for a partnership. In meantime, our council President Rich Hollenbach had a meeting with Grace’s Council President to be on the same page. Dean Julie Dewerth will be present at Grace’s March 19th Church Council Meeting to explain the details. Linda motioned to approve that we will have a discussion with Grace for the short-term plan to potentially share Pastor Ethan between Faith and Grace, Paul seconded, and all voted to approve.
NEW BUSINESS
Pastor’s Laptop replacement—approved by council and this request will go to Special Funds. Substitute organist, Pat Keen. Teri Apgar & Sephie Duff have requested transfer to Lansdale Presbyterian Church in Hatfield.
Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Registration is due April 23rd. Gary Apgar and Gail Achilles will be our representatives this year.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 2nd at 7pm.
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.
Meeting with our Thrivent Reps: David Kratz, who has been our very capable Thrivent financial representative for Faith Lutheran church and some of our congregational members, is retiring after 40 years. Dave said that it has been his pleasure to serve us with our financial needs. Our church council thanked him for his past service and wished him a good retirement. He introduced Amanda Schulenberg, who will be taking over for him. Amanda told us that she loves finances and will always be dedicated to her clientele. The former Thrivent office location has been closed, and Amanda will provide us with the new address shortly. Our new Thrivent Financial Adviser Amanda Schulenberg can be reached at 215-368-4888.
Gail lead devotions on Psalm 32. Minutes of the February regular council meeting was approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 16% of the year, Member Giving Pledged is on track at 15.28% with Member Giving Unpledged at 21% and Loose Plate Offering at 22.43%. We had a donation of $370 from the Emily Gallo Scrapbook Fundraiser, $108 in Thrivent Choice Dollars and $260.82 in Merck Dividends. Our biggest expense was with the snow removal line at $750 for a total of $1,100 for the year ($100 more than budgeted). The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: We had a nice, albeit small Ash Wednesday service. We continue to plan our Holy Week services (See below) especially our Palm Sunday service. We have confirmed our new part-time organist, and she has started practicing.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of February at Faith and Jerusalem. Our
last Faith Education Dinner was on March 9, 2025. The focus was on the prophets of the Old Testament. Next dinner will be on April 13, 2025, at 5:30pm. Our participation in the Nourishing Vocation Project continued March 5, 2025, with the beginning of Lent. Our focus for this Lent is on values. Our theme for Lent is “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” Small groups have also begun. Our Lenten study on the Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer began on March 6, 2025. In conversation with the president of Feast Incarnate about hosting/sponsoring a meal at University Lutheran Church Philadelphia. We will be sponsoring the meal on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Debbie Hollenbach, Anne Hutnyk, and I are in the planning stage to provide a total of 90 meals. Met with Pastor Nancy to discuss greater collaboration between Faith and Grace. We plan to collaborate during Lent. First Holy Communion for 2 to 3 persons is planned for Easter Sunday.
MINISTRY TEAM REPORTS:
Christian Education:
Sunday School - For Palm Sunday, April 13, during Sunday School we will read the Resurrection Story using the Resurrection eggs and have an egg hunt. There will be no Sunday School on Easter, April 20.
Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) – Next two events are scheduled on Fridays, March 14 - Lenten Theme, and April 11 – Easter/Resurrection Theme, 6pm to 9 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - For this month’s meeting, we are having a bowling event on March 23 at Earl Bowl Lanes in place of the March 16 meeting. An email was sent out on Feb 18 to see who was interested in attending. So far, we have ten coming for fun and fellowship and a striking good time. A second email was sent out on March 10th to parents of youth in this age group with all the details, and to sign-up if interested. The more the merrier.
VBS 2025- This year’s VBS, scheduled for Monday through Friday, August 4 to 8, 9 am to 12 noon, is “True North, Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.” An email was sent out on March 10th to past volunteers with more details of VBS stations requiring leaders and assistants and the need for Crew leaders and assistants to make this year’s VBS fun and successful in bringing Jesus to the youth in our community. The email also notes that there will be a meeting for volunteer sign-up and those just wanting more information on Sunday April 6 after Worship Service in the Fellowship Hall. Please look into your hearts and volunteer your God-given gifts to this year’s VBS. As noted last year, we had an awesome group of volunteers in 2024! Feel free to contact me anytime by email [email protected] or text at 267-664-3328 if you would like to sign up for a volunteer position.
Communications: Holy Week Announcements
Hospitality: Palm Sunday Luncheon - will be putting out a signup sheet for finger sandwiches and salads, and we will supply a cake for the anniversary; need Low-carb/no sugar items for the bishop.Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Team: Spring Cleaning Day is scheduled for Saturday April 5 from 9am to noon.
Property Management: Hedwig House has requested to use the Fellowship Hall to host their Annual Bingo event once again, this year on Thursday, July 17th.
Shepherding: Sharon needs to talk to Beth Schoening about her taking over this ministry.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – February (Sharon Hood/Debbie Hollenbach) We made our goal of 20 “soup bags” containing 3 cans of soup and crackers. These and additional food were delivered to Keystone Opportunity Center in Souderton for a total of 83 pounds.
Social Ministry Project – March (MaryLou Foster) The congregation is being asked to make monetary donations for Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA), an organization that offers safety and wellness for vulnerable youth who may be experiencing homelessness and who have survived trafficking.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January & February, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $77. This collection is taken on the third Sunday in each month through November.
Special Funds: Faith’s portion of Rich Hollenbach’s ELCA candidacy fee of $650 taken from the Mathias Memorial was approved.
Worship & Music: Meeting held on March 4th to review worship from Ash Wednesday through Pentecost. Maundy Thursday Service will be held at Jerusalem at 7pm. Good Friday Service at Grace at 12:00pm. Good Friday Tenebrae Service at Faith will be held at 7pm (not 7:30pm). Easter Vigil Service at 7:30am and Easter Worship Service at 9am.
OLD BUSINESS
Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. Also seeking guidance from SEPA Synod on the review and approval process.
Faith 60th Anniversary on Palm Sunday, April 13th Planning continues.
Discussion with Grace Leadership – Pastor Ethan informed us that Pastor Nancy Raabe, Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield, is retiring early June 2025. Our Synod Dean Julie Dewerth reached out to Pastor Ethan to have a meeting with him along with council members from Grace to work out transition for a partnership. In meantime, our council President Rich Hollenbach had a meeting with Grace’s Council President to be on the same page. Dean Julie Dewerth will be present at Grace’s March 19th Church Council Meeting to explain the details. Linda motioned to approve that we will have a discussion with Grace for the short-term plan to potentially share Pastor Ethan between Faith and Grace, Paul seconded, and all voted to approve.
NEW BUSINESS
Pastor’s Laptop replacement—approved by council and this request will go to Special Funds. Substitute organist, Pat Keen. Teri Apgar & Sephie Duff have requested transfer to Lansdale Presbyterian Church in Hatfield.
Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Registration is due April 23rd. Gary Apgar and Gail Achilles will be our representatives this year.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 2nd at 7pm.
