Council Committee Updates from the May Meeting
Pastor’s Report: Trinity Council, Let’s all extend a warm welcome to our newest council members who begin serving with us this evening. This month is one of our busiest months of ministry at Trinity. You were installed last weekend as the Council of the church. This weekend we prepare to confirm nine confirmands who are exceptional young people, who did phenomenally well on their exams. We are preparing to welcome a half dozen new members into our congregation on the weekend of the 26th. We will also continue the tradition of recognizing and honoring our High School Graduates in our Senior Recognition Service the weekend after that. Baptisms continue and there are a few more scheduled in the next month or two. This time of year is akin to the First Fruit Offering of Leviticus 23. In it the people of God wave (that is hold out before God) the first hint of the full goodness that will come. You are a part of that offering, filled with promise as leaders, just as our baptized babies, and growing young people represent the beginnings of God’s faithfulness, but not the end.
In Christ, Pr. Kevin
Pastor Kevin opened with Matthew 5, a devotional focusing on the Beatitudes, and prayer.
Reports and Items Needing Action
Visitors: Welcoming Council members/introductions
Pr. McClain: Discussion of Pr. Georg Warnecke’s sabbatical at Trinity involves ongoing visa proceedings managed by a lawyer, pending his visa interview and travel arrangements, with considerations for a coordinator due to potential visa fees and his recent inner ear issue. Discussion on costs and sources for Stipend, Travel, and Insurance for Pastor Warnecke’s visit was held. A detailed cost list will be created for Council approval.
Staff: Rae Harris seeks council approval to send a “Letter of Intent” to our graphic designer, affirming our intention to retain their services at a similar rate. Motion was approved. – Ron and the staff are discussing plans for late summer/early fall, including Rally Day, and considering a mid-week worship/prayer time during the summer.
Old Business: Survey committee updates: Surveys to be mailed by May 31st. – Envelope stuffing volunteers needed on May 28th at 7pm, tentatively in Rooms A & B.
Christian Education: May 19th Confirmation Sunday – June 2nd Senior Breakfast – June 10th-13th VBS
Finance: At our April 30th meeting, Kate Strine provided detailed financial oversight information, and Scott Saner from Whitcomb and Hess will serve as our primary contact until a new bookkeeper is hired. Dan Wierbiki will now give final approval to bills. Dan W. proposed to approve retroactively the hiring of an Immigration lawyer, for Pastor Warneke’s sabbatical. Approved.
Grounds: Ryane reported complaints about unmowed grass between the Center Street Parking Lot and the neighboring AirBNB; Jeff Gray will address the issue.
Kitchen: Wednesday Night Suppers ended successfully on May 8th, 2024. – Only fourteen vouchers were used for the Ashland County Cancer Association in April. – Luther Club is ongoing. – MNMs had its largest meal serving 27 people. – The Mission Trip Fundraiser raised $1,336, mostly from donated food except for $38 worth of salad dressing. – A snack sale/lunch was held at the Rummage Sale.
Upcoming events include: Congregational Breakfast on May 19th. – Senior Breakfast on June 2nd for High School Graduates. – Planning for VBS with Dawn.- Shirley Wolfe’s funeral and luncheon scheduled for June 1st.
Missions: $3,819.15 raised for mission teams through various events was distributed among fifteen individuals traveling to Albania and Slovakia, with donations still accepted until June.
Montessori: The last day of the school year is Thursday, May 23rd. Families will be celebrating with lunch and games. Currently have sixteen enrolled students for next year and several more have expressed interest. Waiting list for children under three years of age. Looking for a teacher to take two days per week for next school year.
Nurture: Nurture Committee met on May 9th, discussing the Gratitude Goodie program and planning groups to receive goodies through September. Plans for assisting with the May 19th confirmation breakfast were coordinated in collaboration with the kitchen crew and Youth Committee. The committee collectively formulated a new mission statement and outlined their future objectives.
Outreach: Steve Strine has resigned from the Outreach Committee. Gail Warnes, who was on the committee before, has agreed to serve another three year term. Trinity initially funded a joint Youth Bible Study program last summer, but due to limited contributions from other churches, Trinity now shoulders most of the financial responsibility, prompting consideration of continued support despite the venue change. The study has approximately fifty youths weekly. $3,000 from the Outreach Fund was allocated to the study.
Personnel: Review committees and make committee selections. Three interviews were conducted, two bookkeepers and one Director of Christian Development. Offer being made for a bookkeeper candidate. Kate Strine’s last day was May 9th. Charity Wolfe’s last day is May 31st.
Property: Motion to approve tile installation in lower level hallway. Approved. Motion to approve installation seven receptacles in alcoves outside of Jack’s Place with new breaker in existing panel. Approved. Motion to approve installation of five occupancy sensors in lower level corridors to replace toggle switches. Approved. Motion to approve two coats of sealer on the entire Center St. parking lot. Approved. Motion to approve replacement of twelve large round tables. Approved. TLC Properties updates. Request from Christian Ed. for a motion to purchase white boards and associated cork boards, tables, chairs, and clocks. Approved.
Women and Children: VBS planning is moving along nicely. Early stages of planning a father-son camping weekend closer to fall. The rummage sale was May 10th and 11th. Huge success and raise over $8,000 for Operation Christmas Child.
Worship and Music: Continuing with hymn of the month. Confirmation May 19th. Senior Recognition June 2nd Children’s choirs finished up with their performance at the Mother’s Day service in Jack’s Place Children’s choir camp July 29th-August 1st Meeting coming up on May 20th
Youth: The High Praise Youth Choir trip to Buffalo on April 20th-21st fostered a time of praise and fellowship, with thirty students and eight adults attending, featuring performances at Prince of Peace church and visits to Niagara Falls and the Buffalo Zoo. – Confirmation Sunday, May 19th with a congregation-wide celebratory breakfast afterward. – May 19th – Youth Hang out night 6-8pm in the youth rooms. – June 2nd – Senior Recognition Service, 8:45am service. Nine seniors will be recognized and given prayer shawls/blankets.
Call Committee: Steve Strine resigned from the call committee.
Election of Officers: Lay Leader – Kenny Oberholtzer, Secretary – Stephanie Bragg
Committee Assignments:
Call – Lorna Ross and Brian Owens
Personnel – Becky Schaaf, Rob Hendrix, Kenny Oberholtzer and Kim Pool
Worship and Music – Angela Baker
Communication – Julie Guenther
Strategic Planning – Kim Pool and Kenny Oberholtzer f.
Finance – Kenny Oberholtzer and Dan Wierbiki
Outreach/Benevolence – Tim Merkel
Property – David Morr, Jeff Gray and Gary Goon
Kitchen – Stephanie Bragg
Missions/Community Partnerships – Kim Pool
Nurture – Kim Oberholtzer
New Member/Assimilation/Volunteer – Stephanie Bragg m. Christian Education – Jenny Pence
Senior Ministries – Ann Emmons
Women and Children – Lorna Ross
Young Adult – Ryane Briggs
Youth – Sara Paddags, Ryane Briggs, Jenny Pence