Council Notes January 7, 2026
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: The final treasurer's report of 2025 shows that Pledged Member Giving is at 94% but Unpledged Member Giving is increased at 170% and Loose Plate Offering at 19%.
This leaves us with a year-end budget deficit of $31,670.15. It is lower than we projected but it still shows that we cannot finance our congregation’s needs without utilizing our reserve funds.
Special Envelopes for Christmas, the Christmas Cookie Can Sale and utilizing the remaining funds from the Merck stock/HVAC Fund allowed us to end the month of December with only a $626.90 deficit.
Overall, most expenses in the projected budget were pretty accurate. Fixed expenses were higher than anticipated, however, due to congregational donations, hospitality expenses were much lower than budgeted.
Our current Mortgage balance is $140,753.63.
The treasurer’s report from December 2025 was approved as written.
President’s Report: As reviewed above, our reserves are increasingly being used up to handle our expenses and operating costs of our church with 2025 using almost $32,000. This is the first time we have ended the year with over $30,000 in deficit.
This is my final council meeting that I will be running as my term expires this month. It has been my honor and pleasure to serve Faith these past 6 years.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month at Faith and Jerusalem.
I continue to do shifts at the Lansdale Hospital as the Volunteer Protestant Chaplain and volunteer at Mitzvah Circle.
Our theme this program year is “A Listening Faith.” Our Book study offerings were paused for the month of December. The next offerings are on January 7, 2026, on zoom/ in person at Faith at 6pm, and at Jerusalem on January 11, 2026, at 12:30pm. Study has been going well. There were some great conversations.
Our last Faith Education Dinner was on December 14th at 5:30pm. Next session will be January 11, 2025.
In conversation with Debbie Hollenbach, we talked with Pastor Gwendolyn King and Faith has signed up to host two Feast Incarnate meals. One on May 19 or 26, and on September 15, 2026.
Thank you for your cards and gifts that my family and I received for Christmas. You all did not have to do that, but it was appreciated. You make us feel very loved.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School – Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday school. (Children leave during Worship service with the Sunday school teacher after children’s sermon and return for communion). It is very convenient for the parent/caregiver to attend worship service while their children attend Sunday school. Our rotation of teachers will be Kate Waldman, Anna Friedrich, and Gail Achilles until Nancy Gansner returns at the end of March 2026.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12 to 17) – Since this ministry did not get together in December 2025, our YAF group will enjoy a Christmas party plus ring in the New Year on Sunday, January 18, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Our next YAF is planned for February 15.
Parents’ Night Out – Youth Fellowship (PNO-YF) Our monthly event is scheduled for Friday, January 16, 6 pm to 9 pm in the church fellowship hall. Our theme will be taking care of God’s animals. Our next event will be held on February 13, at the same time and place. (Please note that the March 20th date for PNO-YF as printed on first batch of informational flyers has been changed to March 27th).
Monday Night Bible Study (MNBS): Happy Blessed New Year! Our bible study group met on January 5 and chose “Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven” by Dr. Ann-Jill Levine to be our next study. We meet by zoom on Monday evenings, 7 pm – 9 pm. The zoom link can be found in the “Mustard Seed” and the church service weekly bulletin. All are welcome.
Communications: Pastor and others posted on Facebook and our website about our special events during Christmas, and John Taylor posted another thought provoking saying on our front lawn sign.
Finance: 2024 Internal Financial Review is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026. 2025 External Financial Review being Coordinated. The new payroll and online giving have been set up.
Hospitality: The 2026 coffee hour schedule has been completed. Sign-up sheet at the council meeting for the 61st Annual Congregational Meeting breakfast on January 25th. February 15th will be Fastnacht Day. All other Sundays in January and February will be coffee lite.
Long-Range Planning: Coordinating a meeting in January.
Nominating Team: Melissa Prunkel is the chair along with Janet Hill and Bonnie Staller
6 council members will continue in 2026 while 1 must leave (Rich) and 1 is eligible to run for a second term (John)
We can have up to 3 more council members for a total of 9. Right now, we have two members who will be brought to the congregational meeting for election to council.
Property: The church Vacuum cleaner has broken down again. The council approved the request from Adam for the purchase of a new one from Best Buy for $349.99. Once we have the receipt, will send to the Special Funds team.
Social Ministry: November – Mary Lou Foster
Collection for Code Blue at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale. Item totals are 148 individual snacks, 1 bottle shampoo,1 toothpaste, 1 toothbrush, 2 word find books, 3 hats, 24 socks, 8 pairs gloves, 1 pair flip flops, $100 Amazon gift cards.
December - Nancy Gansner - “Angel Tree” is set up in the Foyer. Money is collected for Pastor’s “discretionary fund” if members of our Faith Family need it. December - Sharon Hood - Christmas gifts for (3) Three children (Jasmine, age 7; Joey, age 9; Xavier, age 12) from Gemma Services/Martin Luther School. Money collected on December 21, 2025, was $309.34. The presents cost $182.34 so the balance $130 (rounded up) will be donated to the school. January - Debbie Hollenbach & Nancy Gansner - Valentine Cards to 20 residents at Paradise Manor in Hatfield. Cards are to be signed on Sunday, January 11. Delivered in February. Will also share candy and individual tissue packs with them. For January – November 2025, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” - Collected a total of $550. The Sunday School children chose the following from “God’s Global Barnyard”:
5 water filters $150; honeybees and share of vegetable garden $220; 2 piglets $60; 1 goat and a flock of chickens $60; 2 roosters $30; Mosquito nets for a family $20; 1 flock of chicks $10.
Worship & Music: Working on worship planning for 2026 including which services Pat will be playing the organ.
OLD BUSINESS - Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. There are some new guidelines from the ELCA that we will review and incorporate as needed.
NEW BUSINESS - The 61st Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 4, 2065, at 7pm
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: The final treasurer's report of 2025 shows that Pledged Member Giving is at 94% but Unpledged Member Giving is increased at 170% and Loose Plate Offering at 19%.
This leaves us with a year-end budget deficit of $31,670.15. It is lower than we projected but it still shows that we cannot finance our congregation’s needs without utilizing our reserve funds.
Special Envelopes for Christmas, the Christmas Cookie Can Sale and utilizing the remaining funds from the Merck stock/HVAC Fund allowed us to end the month of December with only a $626.90 deficit.
Overall, most expenses in the projected budget were pretty accurate. Fixed expenses were higher than anticipated, however, due to congregational donations, hospitality expenses were much lower than budgeted.
Our current Mortgage balance is $140,753.63.
The treasurer’s report from December 2025 was approved as written.
President’s Report: As reviewed above, our reserves are increasingly being used up to handle our expenses and operating costs of our church with 2025 using almost $32,000. This is the first time we have ended the year with over $30,000 in deficit.
This is my final council meeting that I will be running as my term expires this month. It has been my honor and pleasure to serve Faith these past 6 years.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month at Faith and Jerusalem.
I continue to do shifts at the Lansdale Hospital as the Volunteer Protestant Chaplain and volunteer at Mitzvah Circle.
Our theme this program year is “A Listening Faith.” Our Book study offerings were paused for the month of December. The next offerings are on January 7, 2026, on zoom/ in person at Faith at 6pm, and at Jerusalem on January 11, 2026, at 12:30pm. Study has been going well. There were some great conversations.
Our last Faith Education Dinner was on December 14th at 5:30pm. Next session will be January 11, 2025.
In conversation with Debbie Hollenbach, we talked with Pastor Gwendolyn King and Faith has signed up to host two Feast Incarnate meals. One on May 19 or 26, and on September 15, 2026.
Thank you for your cards and gifts that my family and I received for Christmas. You all did not have to do that, but it was appreciated. You make us feel very loved.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School – Children ages 3 to 11 are welcome to attend Sunday school. (Children leave during Worship service with the Sunday school teacher after children’s sermon and return for communion). It is very convenient for the parent/caregiver to attend worship service while their children attend Sunday school. Our rotation of teachers will be Kate Waldman, Anna Friedrich, and Gail Achilles until Nancy Gansner returns at the end of March 2026.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12 to 17) – Since this ministry did not get together in December 2025, our YAF group will enjoy a Christmas party plus ring in the New Year on Sunday, January 18, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Our next YAF is planned for February 15.
Parents’ Night Out – Youth Fellowship (PNO-YF) Our monthly event is scheduled for Friday, January 16, 6 pm to 9 pm in the church fellowship hall. Our theme will be taking care of God’s animals. Our next event will be held on February 13, at the same time and place. (Please note that the March 20th date for PNO-YF as printed on first batch of informational flyers has been changed to March 27th).
Monday Night Bible Study (MNBS): Happy Blessed New Year! Our bible study group met on January 5 and chose “Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven” by Dr. Ann-Jill Levine to be our next study. We meet by zoom on Monday evenings, 7 pm – 9 pm. The zoom link can be found in the “Mustard Seed” and the church service weekly bulletin. All are welcome.
Communications: Pastor and others posted on Facebook and our website about our special events during Christmas, and John Taylor posted another thought provoking saying on our front lawn sign.
Finance: 2024 Internal Financial Review is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026. 2025 External Financial Review being Coordinated. The new payroll and online giving have been set up.
Hospitality: The 2026 coffee hour schedule has been completed. Sign-up sheet at the council meeting for the 61st Annual Congregational Meeting breakfast on January 25th. February 15th will be Fastnacht Day. All other Sundays in January and February will be coffee lite.
Long-Range Planning: Coordinating a meeting in January.
Nominating Team: Melissa Prunkel is the chair along with Janet Hill and Bonnie Staller
6 council members will continue in 2026 while 1 must leave (Rich) and 1 is eligible to run for a second term (John)
We can have up to 3 more council members for a total of 9. Right now, we have two members who will be brought to the congregational meeting for election to council.
Property: The church Vacuum cleaner has broken down again. The council approved the request from Adam for the purchase of a new one from Best Buy for $349.99. Once we have the receipt, will send to the Special Funds team.
Social Ministry: November – Mary Lou Foster
Collection for Code Blue at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale. Item totals are 148 individual snacks, 1 bottle shampoo,1 toothpaste, 1 toothbrush, 2 word find books, 3 hats, 24 socks, 8 pairs gloves, 1 pair flip flops, $100 Amazon gift cards.
December - Nancy Gansner - “Angel Tree” is set up in the Foyer. Money is collected for Pastor’s “discretionary fund” if members of our Faith Family need it. December - Sharon Hood - Christmas gifts for (3) Three children (Jasmine, age 7; Joey, age 9; Xavier, age 12) from Gemma Services/Martin Luther School. Money collected on December 21, 2025, was $309.34. The presents cost $182.34 so the balance $130 (rounded up) will be donated to the school. January - Debbie Hollenbach & Nancy Gansner - Valentine Cards to 20 residents at Paradise Manor in Hatfield. Cards are to be signed on Sunday, January 11. Delivered in February. Will also share candy and individual tissue packs with them. For January – November 2025, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” - Collected a total of $550. The Sunday School children chose the following from “God’s Global Barnyard”:
5 water filters $150; honeybees and share of vegetable garden $220; 2 piglets $60; 1 goat and a flock of chickens $60; 2 roosters $30; Mosquito nets for a family $20; 1 flock of chicks $10.
Worship & Music: Working on worship planning for 2026 including which services Pat will be playing the organ.
OLD BUSINESS - Constitution Update: Needs a few changes based on feedback from council review before being sent to the congregation for review. There are some new guidelines from the ELCA that we will review and incorporate as needed.
NEW BUSINESS - The 61st Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 4, 2065, at 7pm
