Council Minutes 4/24/10
Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church, U.A.C.
Present: Rev. Dr. Benjamin T. G. Mayes, Rev. Scot Kinnaman, Mrs. Karen Rolland, Mr. Kurt Rolland.
Began meeting at 11:08.
Pastor’s report (Rev. John Hellwege, written report)
“On Saturday, April 17 we had a private baptism at the church for Michael Jamari Mullen son of Stacey Marie Shubert. We held the baptism as a private ceremony since Stacey and Michael’s father, Jeffrey Mullen, are not married. Since we did not want it to appear that the church was condoning this situation, yet Michael, as all sinful human beings, is in need of God’s grace, President Kinnaman and I decided that a private ceremony was appropriate.
“On May 2 and May 23 I will be gone, Rev. Dr. Mayes has agreed to take these Sundays for me.
“The Homeschool co-op will finish this school year on May 28. We are planning on having an end of year celebration that will include a play of the book of Ruth and a second hand bell concert.
“The Patriettes basketball season is over, and they are very thankful for the use of the gym. Plans are in the works to have a monthly “hoops night” at the gym when the girls can get together and keep their skills from getting too rusty. No dates have been set yet. The team is also interested in keeping the same practice schedule for next year, namely Thursday nights and Saturday mornings, if that is acceptable to the congregation.”
President’s report (Rev. Scot Kinnaman)
Pres. Kinnaman is working with Apple of His Eye ministries; contact is Ivan Petersen. They are discussing the possibility of moving their offices to Emmaus’ school building. They would take over the principal’s office and the adjoined classroom. They would need to add electrical. Rev. Kinnaman has been talking with Volz Electric and Crown Electric, to get bids to add 220V lines to handle heating/cooling, and to expand receptacle service in classroom from 2 to 6. He has received two very different plans from the two contractors. He also called Randy Caress (formerly with JR Heating Cooling).
Kurt: Make sure they are licensed and bonded, and have city permits.
Rev. Kinnaman will make sure. In the electrical room, the fuse box at corner of room has water damage. This was a cause for concern with the contractors. Volz wants to take off main box and put in a new panel. Crown wants to upgrade panel outside of church office and run new stuff off of there. Both contractors talked about mini-splits. These are AC units that require only a 5” hole in the wall, and connect with a unit on the inside. They are more expensive, but more cost efficient. Those are permanent installations. Rev. Kinnaman was thinking that electrical upgrade would be the investment we would require of Apple of His Eye. In the first year, they would have to pay only minimal rent (for example, $100/mo.). In the xecond year, the rent would go up; we would re-negotiate.
Kurt: We want a zero-net-cost situation. All are agreed. Rev. Kinnaman will ask why not Mt. Olive.
The court case against the vandal of our AC units has gone forward. The vandal has been convicted and will be sentenced May 19. After he’s sentenced, we’ll let insurance know.
Secretary’s report (Rebecca Mayes, written report)
“The Trinklein family purchased some items from the school basement for $30.
“Thrivent sent us a $300 check last November since they had extra money in 2009 to distribute among the congregations in our chapter. The check went to Larry Seidenstricker, who just recently passed it on to us. I checked to make sure we could still deposit it and they said yes. We need to let Thrivent know what we decide to do with the funds and them publicize to the congregation that the money came from Thrivent. Please discuss what the money should be earmarked for.
“There was a truck parked next to the school last week so I called the towing company. They came out and started hooking up the truck, but then the owner of the truck, who is the son of the guy who runs the shop across the street, came over and offered to move his vehicle. I told him to let everyone at the shop know that we are serious about the no parking signs, and we’ve notified them before not to park there. He agreed to pass this on and was appreciate that I let him off the hook. Hopefully this will help get the message across.
“I’m in contact with one of the basketball moms and we’re discussing when to schedule the rummage sale.
“The student group from Lutheran High South visited on April 16th and did a good job of cleaning the school building. They also helped Pr. Hellwege remove two bushes outside the church.
“I’m looking for the best way to advertise our fall homeschool co-op schedule and opportunities to the Lutheran churches in the area. We’d like to make sure the word gets out within the next few weeks.”
Rev. Kinnaman requests that Rebecca make sure our Thrivent representative has been changed.
RESOLUTION #1: Dr. Mayes moves to apply the $300 from Thrivent to the capital improvements fund, for the altar wall. Karen seconds. Approved.
Bookkeeper’s report (Kathy Landskroener, written report)
“Reports for March were e-mailed earlier and printed copies were placed in the Council Secretary’s mailbox in the office. 15 Pledges have been received, for a total of $39,485.00. One response was received from a member who declined to make a pledge but promises to continue to support the congregation. If Council would like more details, please tell me specifically what you would and would not like to know about the pledges.
“In March, we had to ‘hold’ a check for the insurance premium until after the Easter and Holy Week deposits were made. This has since been resolved, and all the bills are paid and all the checks mailed. The balance in our Commerce Bank checking account as of April 17, 2010 is just over $2000. This points out two issues: Deposits need to get to the bank as soon as possible, and if the need arises to transfer money from the Commerce savings account to the checking account, may the bookkeeper do that at her discretion, or do we need approval by another member of Council, or the entire Council, or do we just juggle the bills until the cash flow improves? Please let me know your thoughts and decisions on this.
“Organ repairs were made in April. Do you want to move money from the Organ Repair Fund to help pay this expense? The repairs were $686, the Fund has $100 in it.”
Rev. Kinnaman: We want to know how many member pledges we’ve received. Give us updates on further pledges received. We need a list of names of who responded, so that Rebecca and Dr. Mayes can call and encourage a response. Also, bookkeeper should not be able to transfer money between accounts. Requires a signer.
Discussion on organ repairs. Dr. Mayes: Zero out the organ fund and pay for the rest out of the budget.
Karen: At the last tuning, the organ was completely tuned and nearly all problems were fixed. Bent organ pipe: St. Louis Pipe Organ says it was due to heat, but Gerhard Mueller says that lead melts at 400º. It can’t be due to heat; more likely human accident. Last time organ was tuned, this bent pipe would have been found. Karen will get a few more opinions.
Board of Education report (Karen Rolland)
“1. Sunday school class continues to grow with nearly regular attendance of 10+ children. DJ Barger (college student at SLU) regularly prepares the lesson in Spanish so that the Spanish-speaking children will better understand. Rebecca Mayes says that she is not sure how much of a help this is but it is good to have DJ so willing to help and give of his busy time. Also, Amanda and Rachel Hellwege are always ready lend a hand with the young children so that Rebecca can teach them God’s Word.
“2. Home school co-op continues to meet every Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. in the Emmaus school building. This semester, during the lunch hour, we have added prayer and encouragement time for the parents. During this time the children do assigned chores and then play in the gym. We are preparing music for the Ascension Day worship service on Thursday, May 13. We are also preparing for the spring play and concert which will be on Friday, May 28.
“3. Several Emmaus home school families attended the Greater St. Louis Home School Expo on April 8-10. Pastor Hellwege and Karen Rolland made 40 brochures and many Emmaus business cards. Karen took both to the registration tables at the Expo having received permission from the head of the Expo. All the brochures were gone by the end of the Expo. Karen made several (5+) contacts with families from Providence Christian Academy who are now wanting to start home schooling. We look forward to being able to serve these families.
“4. Karen talked with Cathy Mullins of the Home Link co-op. This co-op serves ~150 middle school and high school home schoolers and has a large lending library. Cathy stated that they are losing their current meeting facility and are looking for a new place. Denise Hellwege is in the process of arranging a time for Cathy to come see what we have to offer at Emmaus. We want to understand clearly why they are losing their facility. We also want to make sure we maintain the Christ-centered focus of our co-op. Karen suggests that we form a steering committee to do so.”
Rev. Kinnaman and Dr. Mayes: The Board of Education with the pastor is the steering committee. People who are not Emmaus members can assist the board, having voice but not vote.
“5. Caleb Barger, one of our home school teens, has asked to be able to do his Eagle Scout project in a way that will help Emmaus. We are suggesting that he and his fellow scouts do the digging, designing, and sprinkler installation of the community garden that we would like to have in the grass area just north of the eastern part of the parking lot. Pastor Hellwege has offered to guide Caleb in the sprinkler installation as he has experience in this. Karen is thinking that the eastern edge of the garden would be lined with roses so that the Jefferson Avenue view would be lovely. Behind the roses would be the vegetables that the home schoolers would grow to help feed and make contact with the people in the neighborhood.”
Dr. Mayes: This will be discussed under Trustee’s report.
“6. Cami Barger, another home school teen, has asked if her American Heritage project might be one that could help Emmaus. Karen has suggested that she help build a piano ensemble room so that we might be able to offer music lessons to more people at one time. This idea would benefit the home schooling families in that the cost would end up being reduced and that the children would be able to have lessons while siblings are attending other classes in our co-op. This will also open doors to reach out to the community children by offering music lessons in a controlled environment. Cami is coming up with fund-raising ideas to help pay for the keyboards that we will need for this venture. One fund-raiser is a pie auction which we are thinking of having during the intermission of the spring concert on May 28.
“7. The home school families are in the process of determining next year’s course offerings. We hope to continue with our focus on history, philosophy, literature and music. With the projected growth, we are ready to divide into the 3 levels that follow the classical model: grammar (K-6), dialectic (7-8), and rhetoric (9-12). We are hoping to add logic and Latin to our course offerings for 2010-2011. We are ready to start charging for classes but have not yet determined what the rate will be. We want to make sure that Emmaus gets a fair amount for the use of the building. We also want to make sure that the teachers get an amount that is due them.”
Trustees (Dr. Benjamin Mayes)
“Dislocated guard rail at church parking lot is not damaged, according to Frank.
“I replaced the lock in the parish office closet. The same master key still opens it.”
Rev. Kinnaman needs a new office key.
“Cynthia and Dave Barger are the new church cleaners. Has Judy been in contact with them?”
Rev. Kinnaman: Judy needs e-mailed list of cleaning responsibilities from Becca. Tell Bargers to keep side door locked.
“Should we ask the homeschool basketball team to contribute a monthly amount toward heating and maintenance at the school? Our annual utilities and maintenance budget for the school is $11,290. That’s about $31 per day. Could Pr. Hellwege find out if the team could afford to pay us $31 per day for rent? How many families are on the team? If $31 per day is too high for the team, then we could negotiate.”
Rev. Kinnaman: When the basketball team came in, the understanding was that they would pay a set amount. Have they not paid?
Kurt: We need a separate ledger line to track how much they have paid.
Dr. Mayes: I’ll talk with Kathy to find out what they’ve paid.
“Ollit Howell (next door neighbor upstairs) says that a permit is not required to hold a yard sale. She held one recently on the front part of our parking lot.”
Rev. Kinnaman: Ask Howell for contact info to landlord. Dr. Mayes will then ask landlord to either remove the gate or let us remove it.
“This week I plan to contact JR Heating and Cooling for an bid to fix AC.”
Kurt will give info on a few other contractors from Angie’s list to Dr. Mayes.
“When I can finally find a free Saturday, I plan to investigate the attic over the sacristy area. I’m looking for inside access to the apse over the altar. My guess is that there is no access. The vent on the east side of the church allows rain to come in when the wind is especially strong, and therefore we have cosmetic damage to the wall above the altar. After I have investigated the attic, I’ll get a bid on repairing the altar wall.”
Kurt will give info on a few other contractors from Angie’s list to Dr. Mayes.
Caleb Barger’s Eagle project.
RESOLUTION #2. Dr. Mayes moves that Caleb Barger be allowed to turn a portion of the church lawn into garden under supervision of Pr. Hellwege. Karen seconds. Motion accepted.
Kurt wants to look into stump removal. Also parking lot: Kurt will spray Roundup.
“I talked with Steve Seidenstricker and told him of our budget for lawn care. I also told him about that we will be seeking volunteers to take care of the lawn.”
Stewardship
“Barb’s suggestion to advertise with Issues, Etc. for $1000.” Dr. Mayes suggested this not be a budget item, but that Barb get donations from individuals, to be given “through” Emmaus. All agreed.
“Lent is now past; let’s schedule the prayer meeting. Pr. Hellwege suggested the first Wednesday in the month.” Rev. Kinnaman: When not in Advent and Lent, let’s do it: Emmaus fellowship building. Preface with meal.
“Tried to get Peace LCMS’s chant choir for Ascension, but it didn’t work out.”
“Shall we charge $10 for official copies of church and school records?”
RESOLUTION #3: Dr. Mayes moved that Emmaus charge $10 for official copies of church and school records. Kurt seconded. Approved.
“Ascension Day is Thursday, May 13. A service is planned.” Kurt and Karen: Pick a few congregations and advertise. Karen and Dr. Mayes will do this.
Rev. Kinnaman: Contact Gerike and Resch; Emmaus as a venue.
Next meeting 5/22 at Rollands’. First call committee, followed immediately by council. June meeting will be 6/12.
Meeting adjourned at 1:00.
