Redeemer Lutheran Church - Great Falls, MT

Pastor’s Message
Text Box: Redeemer Lutheran Church Annual Congregational Meeting MINUTES Call to order: Lacey Gallagher, Council President 12:35 pm January 20, 2008 Determination of Quorum: Lacey Gallagher, Tara Rosipal Opening Prayer: Led by Pastor Dorthy Nielsen Approval of January 2007 Annual Meeting Minutes: Genia McElroy moved to accept the minutes, Willard Cook second, motion carried. Presentation and approval of the Treasurer’s Report: Georgene Robison Church Council Elections: Lacey Gallagher Recognition of Outgoing Council Members: Sherry Lacey Gallagher, Debbie Hartman, Darlene Kravik, Pam Williams Introductions of Council Nominees: Biographies - Kory Larsen, Christina DeGraw, Vicki Dale, Ingrid Callahan; Lacey called for any new nominations three times. With no new nominations, Congregation voted to accept the four (4) nominations. Presentation and Approval of the Treasurer’s Report: Georgene Robison Karl Ingebrigtson moved to accept the treasures report, Genia McElroy seconds, motion carries. Election of Synod Assembly Delegates (June 6-8, 2008; Billings): Charles Wrigg and Zelda Stevenson; Ingrid would also be willing, but must first check her schedule. Old or Unfinished Business: Lacey calls for any old or unfinished business. Genia asks for clarification on a report. New Business: Lacey calls for any new business Elect Endowment Committee Member: Lacey Gallagher Lacey called for anyone who would like to serve. John Rupp stands to explain what the committee does on a regular basis. Marilyn Clinger motions that Vicky Jahraus be elected to the endowment committee, Willard Cook seconds, motion carries. Presentation and Approval of 2008 Budget: Jannie Hartman Introductory report included: Thanking the congregation for their commitment, celebration of making an additional mortgage payment (we are now paying more toward principal than interest), gifts to the church have been designated, a large designated contribution is enabling our congregation to make some changes to the altar area for handicap accessibility, many members gave to debt retirement, information about not meeting our 2007 year budget; deficit of $6830- debt retirement; did not meet mission goal $2300. Jannie then went through the proposed budget by each line item. She asked for comments or questions after each section of the budget. Line 32 – Pete Mountan and Daneil Belcher clarified the amounts for the phone – cellular phone; advertising in the yellow pages was appropriated in line 57. Line 79 – Georgene Robison clarifies special benevolences. Carol Gossman voiced a concern about designated gift being used for a specific purpose as part of the budget. Jannie clarified that the designation for a specific gift is above and beyond the budget amount – Continuing resolution Pg 27 Chapter 15 Use of Church Property C14.02.A07 Disposition of Designated Gifts. Karl Ingebrigtson clarified that the continuing resolution must be adopted at the next Council meeting to be accepted for the 2008 year. A continuing resolution must be renewed each year because it is not in the bylaws. Georgene Robison stated that we budget $972.00 (actual $970.00) per month within the general budget towards the mortgage payment in mission investment fund. Any monies that go into debt retirement go to reducing the principle amount of the debt only. Dick Ecklund stated his concern as to the minutes of the last Council meeting in regard to discretionary spending. Willard Cook motions that we accept the budget as presented, Zelda Stevenson seconds, discussion Dick Ecklund asked that his concern be addressed. Jannie responded by stating that she would ask Council to take action on repaying the debt retirement fund $6830. Carol Gossman wants Jannie to take back to the Council meeting in February her opinion is that the Council should pay back the debit of $6830 before discretionary spending. Daneil disagreed with the statement. A statement was made that this was not part of the budget. Lacey called for approval of the budget. Motion carried. Closing Prayer: Pastor Dorthy Nielsen Adjournment: Sherry Lacey Gallagher; 2:10pm January 20, 2008 Respectfully submitted, Tara Rosipal Text Box: WORSHIP IS... Worship is, at its best, a spontaneous and natural expression of a grateful heart. The sanctuary, the liturgical forms, the hymns, and written prayers – all the trappings of Sunday routines – are directed at focusing our attention. I like to think that the improvements we make to our sanctuary, and the changes we make to the worship format, are not for the sake of entertaining bored souls. The goal, as I see it, is to remove the obstacles to allow worship to happen. Worship is a work performed before God to our own benefit. If I can unpack that statement, it means that if I come passively into a sanctuary expecting to be entertained, then I put the responsibility for a positive outcome upon those who lead worship. I see them as performers, rather than the entire congregation. It means that liturgy is a work that I (the pew sitter) perform out of praise and thanksgiving to God. My liturgical work is also performed as a way of confessing my sin and feelings of inadequacy; seeking God’s blessing for the amendment of my ways and the improvement of my heart. Liturgy is performed for the sake of my brothers and sisters who join me, and for those who cannot be, or are not, present. It means that, while God is the benefactor toward which I direct my work, it is not God who ultimately needs my worship. I do. God has given a commandment that we should have, at least every week, one day devoted to rest and acknowledgement of God’s presence in our lives. To neglect worship doesn’t remove God from our lives, but it does lessen our awareness of what prayer, praise, and thanksgiving do for us. As loving parents insist that children obey for the sake of their own safety and happiness, so are God’s commandments given to lead us toward a good and wholesome life. When I am leading worship, I try not to let the details of performance get in the way of my own worship. When I myself worshiping while leading in worship, I feel others can sense the genuineness of it. When I have attended a church with differing forms of worship, I try (not always successfully) to be rid of self-consciousness. I try to experience new forms of expression without dwelling on what I don’t like, or how I would rather do it differently. So, the motive of change in worship space and form is to remove distractions and add enhancements to the end that spontaneous and natural worship can occur. In that regard, regular practice, memory work, study, and other preparatory work are critically important as well. Love and Peace, Pastor John