Council Notes June 4, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach. Anne Hutnyk led devotions. Minutes of the May regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 42% throughout the year, our receipts are about 44% and our expenses are around 43%. Pledged Member Giving is at 42% and Unpledged Member Giving is at 58%. The deficit for the month is $3,474 and our year-to-date deficit is $14,716.54. Issue with Pastor Ethan’s W-2, which needs to be fixed. Paychex is asking way too much money and his accountant has offered to fix it for $50. All voted to approve. Special Funds will determine where the money will be taken. All members voted to approve the Treasurer’s Report.
President’s Report: Attended the SEPA Synod Assembly on May 30-31 at Trinity Lutheran Church along with Pastor, Gary and Gail. This year’s theme was Ponder Anew. There will be more information coming on it in the near future. Debbie and I, along with Sharon Hood attended Pastor Nancy Raabe’s final worship service at Grace in Hatfield. Seminary education is going very well, and my candidacy process is progressing.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of May at Faith and Jerusalem. Joint Faith Education Dinner/ Young Adult Fellowship movie night was on May 18, 2025. Hosted the Feast Incarnate meal at University Lutheran Church Philadelphia on May 27, 2025. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way. Attended the SEPA Synod assembly with Rich, Gail, Gary on May 30-31, 2025. In collaboration with the Nourishing Vocation project, I have started participating in clergy coaching. My most recent session being May 20, 2025. Will be on Vacation July 7-13; Rich will lead Sunday Worship Service on July 13.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: During the summer months Sunday School will be during the Worship Service as usual in the Fellowship Hall. Rotating teachers are Kate Waldman, Anna Friedrich, and Gail Achilles.
Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) (Ages 3 to 11) – Our next two events will be on Fridays, June 20 and July 18, 6pm to 9pm in the Fellowship Hall. PNO-YF is not scheduled for August due to Vacation Bible School and summer vacations. Our theme for June 20 is God’s Provision through Water.
Young Adult Group (Ages 12 to 17) - Our next meeting, scheduled for Sunday June 22 from 6pm to 7:30pm, will be in the Fellowship Hall and outdoors for some fun activities like flag football, water balloon toss, water balloon volleyball to name a few. We will also have devotion / discussion time. Snacks and beverages will be provided by the Adult Support Team.
Vacation Bible School "SCUBA Diving into Friendship with God" – True North, Trusting Jesus in a Wild World is scheduled for August 4 through 8, 9 am – 12 noon. Please remember to register your child(ren) for this fun Christian formation event. Spread the word to your neighbors, relatives, co-workers, and friends. We also need at least four more adult volunteers, 18 or older, to help out this year, so please contact Gail Achilles, [email protected], (email) or 267-664-3328 (cell) to be part of sharing Jesus’ love and God’s Word with our youth. A big thank you to all the volunteers on board, please make sure you have your information booklets, and contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Communications: VBS sign will be posted on the front lawn of church and VBS registration will be set up on the church website.
Fellowship: The church picnic went well.
Finance: Pastor Ethan’s W-2 issue (was covered under the Treasurer’s Report.)
Hospitality: June 15 - Monday night Bible study will be doing a Father's Day breakfast item coffee hour. July 20 - Fellowship team and Golden girls. All other Sundays are coffee lite.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourshing Vocation Project. Need to schedule a meeting.
Mutual Ministry: Bonnie Staller and Sheena Navarro have agreed to be on the Mutual Ministry Team.
Property Team: Scattons did our spring preventative maintenance on the HVAC systems. Adam is going to try and contact the owner of the ‘abandoned’ car again before he goes to the township. Cigarette butts were found in foyer men’s room. Andy will reach out to Adam about getting the upper parking lot driveway potholes fixed and setting up VBS sign on front lawn.
Shepherding: Some cards have missed being sent out, so we need to get this team working again.
Social Ministry:
Social Ministry Project – April/May (Debbie Hollenbach, Sharon Hood, Nancy Gansner, Mary Lou Foster). On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, several members of the congregation of Faith had an incredible experience of serving a meal at the University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. It was called the Feast Incarnate. A meal is served every Tuesday night to anyone in need of a meal in the community. Pastor Ethan, Anne Hutnyk, Deb & Rich Hollenbach, Nancy Gansner, and Andy Kradzinski travelled to Philadelphia to prepare the meal and serve it. In all 53 people were served at the Feast. They also prepared 15 take home meals and 30 meals for two half-way houses.
Social Ministry Project for the year 2025 - For January - May, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $303.00 ($72.50 was collected in May).
Social Ministry Project for June and July – The Social Ministry team will be collecting personal care items and miscellaneous items for the Coatesville VA Medical Center. A detailed list of items to donate can be found in the June and July Mustard Seeds and the weekly bulletins. There is also an informational display located in the church foyer. Please put donated items in the purple bin in the narthex hallway.
Worship & Music: Substitute Organist, Pat Keen will continue to play through June 22. I will be working on the music schedule for July & August for the next two weeks.
OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – Waiting until after the Churchwide Assembly in July to see if there are any additional changes / updates needed for our updated constitution.
NEW BUSINESS Communication Issues – We are working on improving communication, prayer chain information and follow-up. We need to make sure Pastor Ethan is in the loop of all communications.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 7pm.
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach. Anne Hutnyk led devotions. Minutes of the May regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 42% throughout the year, our receipts are about 44% and our expenses are around 43%. Pledged Member Giving is at 42% and Unpledged Member Giving is at 58%. The deficit for the month is $3,474 and our year-to-date deficit is $14,716.54. Issue with Pastor Ethan’s W-2, which needs to be fixed. Paychex is asking way too much money and his accountant has offered to fix it for $50. All voted to approve. Special Funds will determine where the money will be taken. All members voted to approve the Treasurer’s Report.
President’s Report: Attended the SEPA Synod Assembly on May 30-31 at Trinity Lutheran Church along with Pastor, Gary and Gail. This year’s theme was Ponder Anew. There will be more information coming on it in the near future. Debbie and I, along with Sharon Hood attended Pastor Nancy Raabe’s final worship service at Grace in Hatfield. Seminary education is going very well, and my candidacy process is progressing.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of May at Faith and Jerusalem. Joint Faith Education Dinner/ Young Adult Fellowship movie night was on May 18, 2025. Hosted the Feast Incarnate meal at University Lutheran Church Philadelphia on May 27, 2025. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way. Attended the SEPA Synod assembly with Rich, Gail, Gary on May 30-31, 2025. In collaboration with the Nourishing Vocation project, I have started participating in clergy coaching. My most recent session being May 20, 2025. Will be on Vacation July 7-13; Rich will lead Sunday Worship Service on July 13.
Ministry Team Reports:
Christian Education: Sunday School: During the summer months Sunday School will be during the Worship Service as usual in the Fellowship Hall. Rotating teachers are Kate Waldman, Anna Friedrich, and Gail Achilles.
Parent Night Out/Youth Fellowship (PNO/YF) (Ages 3 to 11) – Our next two events will be on Fridays, June 20 and July 18, 6pm to 9pm in the Fellowship Hall. PNO-YF is not scheduled for August due to Vacation Bible School and summer vacations. Our theme for June 20 is God’s Provision through Water.
Young Adult Group (Ages 12 to 17) - Our next meeting, scheduled for Sunday June 22 from 6pm to 7:30pm, will be in the Fellowship Hall and outdoors for some fun activities like flag football, water balloon toss, water balloon volleyball to name a few. We will also have devotion / discussion time. Snacks and beverages will be provided by the Adult Support Team.
Vacation Bible School "SCUBA Diving into Friendship with God" – True North, Trusting Jesus in a Wild World is scheduled for August 4 through 8, 9 am – 12 noon. Please remember to register your child(ren) for this fun Christian formation event. Spread the word to your neighbors, relatives, co-workers, and friends. We also need at least four more adult volunteers, 18 or older, to help out this year, so please contact Gail Achilles, [email protected], (email) or 267-664-3328 (cell) to be part of sharing Jesus’ love and God’s Word with our youth. A big thank you to all the volunteers on board, please make sure you have your information booklets, and contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Communications: VBS sign will be posted on the front lawn of church and VBS registration will be set up on the church website.
Fellowship: The church picnic went well.
Finance: Pastor Ethan’s W-2 issue (was covered under the Treasurer’s Report.)
Hospitality: June 15 - Monday night Bible study will be doing a Father's Day breakfast item coffee hour. July 20 - Fellowship team and Golden girls. All other Sundays are coffee lite.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourshing Vocation Project. Need to schedule a meeting.
Mutual Ministry: Bonnie Staller and Sheena Navarro have agreed to be on the Mutual Ministry Team.
Property Team: Scattons did our spring preventative maintenance on the HVAC systems. Adam is going to try and contact the owner of the ‘abandoned’ car again before he goes to the township. Cigarette butts were found in foyer men’s room. Andy will reach out to Adam about getting the upper parking lot driveway potholes fixed and setting up VBS sign on front lawn.
Shepherding: Some cards have missed being sent out, so we need to get this team working again.
Social Ministry:
Social Ministry Project – April/May (Debbie Hollenbach, Sharon Hood, Nancy Gansner, Mary Lou Foster). On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, several members of the congregation of Faith had an incredible experience of serving a meal at the University Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. It was called the Feast Incarnate. A meal is served every Tuesday night to anyone in need of a meal in the community. Pastor Ethan, Anne Hutnyk, Deb & Rich Hollenbach, Nancy Gansner, and Andy Kradzinski travelled to Philadelphia to prepare the meal and serve it. In all 53 people were served at the Feast. They also prepared 15 take home meals and 30 meals for two half-way houses.
Social Ministry Project for the year 2025 - For January - May, God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $303.00 ($72.50 was collected in May).
Social Ministry Project for June and July – The Social Ministry team will be collecting personal care items and miscellaneous items for the Coatesville VA Medical Center. A detailed list of items to donate can be found in the June and July Mustard Seeds and the weekly bulletins. There is also an informational display located in the church foyer. Please put donated items in the purple bin in the narthex hallway.
Worship & Music: Substitute Organist, Pat Keen will continue to play through June 22. I will be working on the music schedule for July & August for the next two weeks.
OLD BUSINESS Constitution Update – Waiting until after the Churchwide Assembly in July to see if there are any additional changes / updates needed for our updated constitution.
NEW BUSINESS Communication Issues – We are working on improving communication, prayer chain information and follow-up. We need to make sure Pastor Ethan is in the loop of all communications.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 7pm.
