Council Minutes April 2, 2025
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.
Minutes of the March regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 25% of the year, our receipts are about 28% and our expenses are just below 25%. Our year-to-date deficit is $4,542. The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: Our new supply organist, Pat Keen, has started and will be playing through Easter and then on select Sundays throughout the rest of 2025. Our Palm Sunday preparations are well under way, and we should have a great 60th anniversary celebration. We will be meeting with Grace Lutheran’s council along with Bishop Penman and his staff on Friday, 4/11.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of March at Faith and Jerusalem. Our last Faith Education Dinner was on March 9, 2025. The focus was on the prophets of the Old Testament. Our April gathering is cancelled due to a busy church calendar. Our next dinner will be in May 2025 TBD. Our participation in the Nourishing Vocation Project continued March 5, 2025, with the beginning of Lent. Our focus for this Lent is on values and our theme for Lent is “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” Small groups have also begun. I also participated in the Nourshing Vocation Project monthly cohort meeting on March 20, 204. Attended a ”Preaching with Power” event at United Lutheran Seminary on March 19, 2025. I have sent official documents to the SEPA synod declaring our support of Rich in entering candidacy for rostered ministry.
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; the children will also be given an Easter Story Activity Booklet that they may enjoy doing during Holy Week. We will have an egg hunt for all the children who attend Worship Service that day. We prepared bags with an Easter Story Activity Booklet plus a few filled plastic eggs to give to all the children in our church community who were not able to be present on Palm Sunday. Reminder, there will be no Sunday school on Easter. In addition, our lectionary Sunday school lessons will end on May 25 and resume on Rally Day, September 7. Sunday school will be held at the same time during worship service for the summer months starting June 8 and ending August 31, but we will be meeting down in the Fellowship Hall for teacher directed Summer Fun Fellowship.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - Our March 23 bowling event at Earl Bowl Lanes was so much fun. There were 12 bowlers and 4 observers. We had many laughs and some of us even danced to the lively background music. We would like to make this an annual event. Our next two meetings will be held on April 27 and May 18, 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the Church Fellowship Hall.
PNO-YF (ages 3 to 11) – April 11, the children will enjoy an Easter Theme and the Fruits of the Spirit lesson on faithfulness and peace. Our May meeting on the 9th we are planning a Mother’s Day Theme highlighting mothers of the Bible. We will also continue teaching the Fruits of the Spirit focusing on goodness and gentleness. Both dates are Fridays, 6 pm to 9 pm
VBS 2025- --“True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” is scheduled Monday through Friday, August 4 thru 8, from 9am to 12 noon. We will have an April 6 meeting for volunteers and those who want to support VBS in any capacity. We hope the meeting will be very fruitful, but we can always use more help. So, if you would like to be part of this fun Christian formation event for our youth please contact Gail Achilles, [email protected] (email) or 267-664-3328 (cell).
MNBS - Our small group, which meets on Mondays via zoom, finished up the “Deeper Connections, Parables of Jesus” book and are grateful for gaining a better understanding how we can apply Jesus’ teachings to our daily lives. Our next study is John Ortberg’s “The Me I Want to Be’ Becoming God’s Best Version of You” which we will begin on April 7 and will end on May 19. All are welcome. If interested, there is contact information available in the back of the Mustard Seed and weekly church worship service bulletins. (Note: our MNBS does not meet through the summer months; we will resume on September 8, 2025).
Communications: Holy Week Announcements
Hospitality: Palm Sunday Luncheon - will be putting out a signup sheet for finger sandwiches and we will supply a cake for the anniversary. Need Low-carb/no sugar items for the bishop. Started coming up with recipes for the Feast Incarnate at University Lutheran Church, Philadelphia on Tuesday, the 27th where we will be planning meals for approximately 95 to 100 people.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Team: Adam Feldman is contacting the owner of what looks like an abandoned car in our church parking lot. If the owner does not respond, Adam will call the Development Association Manager, and if that step fails to produce action, the township police department will be notified. A pipe inspection camera was rented to find out where the underground downspout drain system was clogged. There were three spots that were found to be blocked and were temporarily fixed. A permanent fix will happen on our workday when more people will be there to help. Adam would like to be reimbursed for the camera rental, the total was $252.61. Pest services sprayed the building for carpenter ants. Spring workday is April 5 9am-noon. We will be spreading mulch and cleaning up the church property. If it rains, mulching will be postponed until April 12.
Shepherding: The Shepherding team will be sending out cards for Easter.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – March (Mary Lou Foster) The total donations for Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) were $351.
Social Ministry Project – April (Debbie Hollenbach, Sharon Hood, Nancy Gansner, Mary Lou Foster) The congregation is being asked to donate food items for the “Feast Incarnate” at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in University City, Philadelphia. We will provide a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, iced tea and honey cake dinner on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for 95-115 people. The congregation will also be asked to prepare the food at home, bring it to Faith, organize it for transport, and help serve at University Lutheran.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January, February, & March God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $140. This collection is taken on the third Sunday of each month through November. If anyone knows of a coin collector, please contact Sharon (215) 822-2579. We have several coins that need to be evaluated.
Special Funds: Property expense for the pipe camera: $252.61; Pastor’s replacement laptop: $419.99. Will send out to the team for the approvals.
Worship & Music: Substitute organist, Pat Keen started to play on Sunday, March 30. Our Holy Week Services: Palm Sunday at 9:30am with Bishop Penman; 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. Bishop Penman expressed to Rich that he is excited to reside over the worship service and deliver the sermon for our church anniversary.
Discussion with Grace Leadership and the Synod, meeting scheduled for Friday, April 11th at 6pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield. Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Gary and Gail are the Faith lay representatives and will attend along with Pastor Ethan.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 7th at 7pm.
Council was called to order by President Rich Hollenbach.
Minutes of the March regular council meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: At 25% of the year, our receipts are about 28% and our expenses are just below 25%. Our year-to-date deficit is $4,542. The treasurer’s report was approved as written.
President’s Report: Our new supply organist, Pat Keen, has started and will be playing through Easter and then on select Sundays throughout the rest of 2025. Our Palm Sunday preparations are well under way, and we should have a great 60th anniversary celebration. We will be meeting with Grace Lutheran’s council along with Bishop Penman and his staff on Friday, 4/11.
Pastor’s Report: I have led and presided at worship regularly throughout the month of March at Faith and Jerusalem. Our last Faith Education Dinner was on March 9, 2025. The focus was on the prophets of the Old Testament. Our April gathering is cancelled due to a busy church calendar. Our next dinner will be in May 2025 TBD. Our participation in the Nourishing Vocation Project continued March 5, 2025, with the beginning of Lent. Our focus for this Lent is on values and our theme for Lent is “Unbroken: A Living Faith.” Small groups have also begun. I also participated in the Nourshing Vocation Project monthly cohort meeting on March 20, 204. Attended a ”Preaching with Power” event at United Lutheran Seminary on March 19, 2025. I have sent official documents to the SEPA synod declaring our support of Rich in entering candidacy for rostered ministry.
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; the children will also be given an Easter Story Activity Booklet that they may enjoy doing during Holy Week. We will have an egg hunt for all the children who attend Worship Service that day. We prepared bags with an Easter Story Activity Booklet plus a few filled plastic eggs to give to all the children in our church community who were not able to be present on Palm Sunday. Reminder, there will be no Sunday school on Easter. In addition, our lectionary Sunday school lessons will end on May 25 and resume on Rally Day, September 7. Sunday school will be held at the same time during worship service for the summer months starting June 8 and ending August 31, but we will be meeting down in the Fellowship Hall for teacher directed Summer Fun Fellowship.
Young Adult Fellowship (ages 12-17) - Our March 23 bowling event at Earl Bowl Lanes was so much fun. There were 12 bowlers and 4 observers. We had many laughs and some of us even danced to the lively background music. We would like to make this an annual event. Our next two meetings will be held on April 27 and May 18, 6 pm to 7:30 pm in the Church Fellowship Hall.
PNO-YF (ages 3 to 11) – April 11, the children will enjoy an Easter Theme and the Fruits of the Spirit lesson on faithfulness and peace. Our May meeting on the 9th we are planning a Mother’s Day Theme highlighting mothers of the Bible. We will also continue teaching the Fruits of the Spirit focusing on goodness and gentleness. Both dates are Fridays, 6 pm to 9 pm
VBS 2025- --“True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World,” is scheduled Monday through Friday, August 4 thru 8, from 9am to 12 noon. We will have an April 6 meeting for volunteers and those who want to support VBS in any capacity. We hope the meeting will be very fruitful, but we can always use more help. So, if you would like to be part of this fun Christian formation event for our youth please contact Gail Achilles, [email protected] (email) or 267-664-3328 (cell).
MNBS - Our small group, which meets on Mondays via zoom, finished up the “Deeper Connections, Parables of Jesus” book and are grateful for gaining a better understanding how we can apply Jesus’ teachings to our daily lives. Our next study is John Ortberg’s “The Me I Want to Be’ Becoming God’s Best Version of You” which we will begin on April 7 and will end on May 19. All are welcome. If interested, there is contact information available in the back of the Mustard Seed and weekly church worship service bulletins. (Note: our MNBS does not meet through the summer months; we will resume on September 8, 2025).
Communications: Holy Week Announcements
Hospitality: Palm Sunday Luncheon - will be putting out a signup sheet for finger sandwiches and we will supply a cake for the anniversary. Need Low-carb/no sugar items for the bishop. Started coming up with recipes for the Feast Incarnate at University Lutheran Church, Philadelphia on Tuesday, the 27th where we will be planning meals for approximately 95 to 100 people.
Long-Range Planning: Coordination with the Nourishing Vocation Project. Will be scheduling a meeting soon.
Property Team: Adam Feldman is contacting the owner of what looks like an abandoned car in our church parking lot. If the owner does not respond, Adam will call the Development Association Manager, and if that step fails to produce action, the township police department will be notified. A pipe inspection camera was rented to find out where the underground downspout drain system was clogged. There were three spots that were found to be blocked and were temporarily fixed. A permanent fix will happen on our workday when more people will be there to help. Adam would like to be reimbursed for the camera rental, the total was $252.61. Pest services sprayed the building for carpenter ants. Spring workday is April 5 9am-noon. We will be spreading mulch and cleaning up the church property. If it rains, mulching will be postponed until April 12.
Shepherding: The Shepherding team will be sending out cards for Easter.
Social Ministry: Social Ministry Project – March (Mary Lou Foster) The total donations for Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) were $351.
Social Ministry Project – April (Debbie Hollenbach, Sharon Hood, Nancy Gansner, Mary Lou Foster) The congregation is being asked to donate food items for the “Feast Incarnate” at University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in University City, Philadelphia. We will provide a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, iced tea and honey cake dinner on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for 95-115 people. The congregation will also be asked to prepare the food at home, bring it to Faith, organize it for transport, and help serve at University Lutheran.
Social Ministry Project for 2025 For January, February, & March God’s Global Barnyard “noisy coin collection” has received a total of $140. This collection is taken on the third Sunday of each month through November. If anyone knows of a coin collector, please contact Sharon (215) 822-2579. We have several coins that need to be evaluated.
Special Funds: Property expense for the pipe camera: $252.61; Pastor’s replacement laptop: $419.99. Will send out to the team for the approvals.
Worship & Music: Substitute organist, Pat Keen started to play on Sunday, March 30. Our Holy Week Services: Palm Sunday at 9:30am with Bishop Penman; 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. Bishop Penman expressed to Rich that he is excited to reside over the worship service and deliver the sermon for our church anniversary.
Discussion with Grace Leadership and the Synod, meeting scheduled for Friday, April 11th at 6pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Hatfield. Synod Assembly, May 30 & May 31, 2025, at Trinity Lansdale. Gary and Gail are the Faith lay representatives and will attend along with Pastor Ethan.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 7th at 7pm.
