Saint Paul s Lutheran Church 2018 Annual Reports

Transcription

1 Saint Paul s Lutheran Church 2018 Annual Reports Table of Contents Staff Contact Information Page 2 Leadership Contact Information Page 3 Congregation Meeting Agenda January 13, 2019 Page 4 Congregation Meeting Minutes December 16, 2018 Page 5 Staff Reports Pastor Page 6 Director of Music Ministry Page 7 Director of Youth Ministry & Sunday School Ministry Page 8 Director of Student Ministry Page 9 Director of Child Development Center Ministry Page 10 Director of Pre-School Ministry Page 11 Director of Communication Ministry Page 12 Congregation Council President Page 13 Ministry Reports Worship Page 14 Adult Learning Page 15 Community Care Page 16 Congregational Care Page 18 Property Page 19 Records, Data, & Statistics Page 20 Finance Page Final Income/ Expense Report Page WELCA Treasurer s Report Page Sterrettania Road Erie, PA

2 Staff Pastor Director of Administration Sexton Director of Student Ministry Director of Child Development Center Ministry Director of Youth Ministry Director of Pre-School Ministry Director of Communication Ministry Director of Music Ministry The Rev. Sami Pfalzgraf (Pastor Sami) (814) x103 (636) (mobile) Nicholas Barber (814) x100 Tyler Bliley (814) x100 Rachel Burkey (814) x104 Dawn Chismar (814) x116 Melissa Collins (814) x105 Tammi Ferrante (814) x114 Debbie Gross (814) x307 Andrew Rainbow (814) x107 2

3 Congregation Leadership Council Leadership Terms Ending December 31, Pam Brady (814) x Larry Kessler (814) x Ron Till (814) x343 Terms Ending December 31, Steve Thelin (814) x Kelly Zimmerman (814) x Bill Gross (814) x Joe Lang (814) x395 Terms Ending December 31, Sue Bax (814) x John Cooper (814) x Linda Latva (814) x Heather McLaughlin (814) x Bob Wright (814) x332 3

4 Congregation Meeting Agenda Sunday, January 13, 2019 During the 9:00 AM Worship 1. Call Meeting to Order (Ron Till) 2. Recognition of Leadership (Staff and Volunteers) (Ron Till) 3. Ministry Review a. Worship Ministry (Larry Kessler) b. Adult Learning Ministry (Gary Bax) c. Community Care Ministry (Gary Bax) d. Congregational Care Ministry (June Kessler) Following the 9:00 AM Worship Service 4. Prayer (Pastor Sami) 5. Capital Campaign Update (Ron Till) Finance Review (Bill Gross) 7. Accept Annual Reports (Ron Till) 8. Child Development Center 2018 Finance Update (Pastor Sami) 9. Adjournment (Ron Till) 4

5 Congregation Meeting Minutes Sunday, December 16, 2018 Following the 9:00 AM Worship Service Meeting called to order at 10:15 AM by Council President Kelly Zimmerman. Opening Prayer by Pastor Sami Pfalzgraf. Motion made by Cindy Dohanic to approve minutes from Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 10, Motion seconded by Joanne Erikson, voted, and approved. Recognition given to Council leadership, St. Paul s staff, and volunteer staff. Motion made by Joanne Erikson to approve five new council members: Sue Bax, Linda Latva, Bob Wright, John Cooper, and Heather McLaughlin. Seconded by Kevin Kuric, voted, and approved Ministry Spending Plan presented by Bill Gross: - Budget began with a $13,000 deficit. - Current deficit is $6, budget is currently balanced. Motion made by Larry Kessler to approve 2019 Ministry Spending Plan. Seconded by Greg Zimmerman, voted, and approved. The next Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 13, 2019, following the 9 AM worship service with the installation of Council Members, presentation of the 2018 Annual Report, and a vote on the adoption of a new St. Paul s Constitution. Closed with Lord s Prayer. Motion made by Joanne Erikson to adjourn at 10:45 AM, seconded by John Erikson, and approved. Respectfully Submitted, Pam Brady Congregation Secretary 5

6 Pastor This year has been one of many changes. St. Paul s celebrated the ministries of and said goodbye to Pastor Anita and Amy Chiapa. I have heard so many stories of how much love and support they gave the church during their ministries. They were truly blessings. We welcomed Rachel Burkey as Director of Student Ministries and I began my ministry March 1. This is a lot of change in leadership and is, naturally, very difficult. St. Paul s has mourned their loss and is beginning to move forward creating new visions and goals for our future. One of the goals of this year was to create more opportunities to get to know each other. We listened to God s direction for the Youth Ministry and started the new Rotation Sunday School which gives people more opportunity to interact with the children. It also creates more intergenerational opportunities for fellowship. We started the Women s Group, Moms Group, Book Club, and Scripture Study. I know we are all busy people, but taking time to grow in our faith with our church family is important. This is especially important as we continue to grow. We have consistently been worshipping people on Sunday mornings. We have worked to focus the worship so that every aspect leads us toward the scripture, includes a wide variety of music, and intentionally incorporates all ages, like when we have children read the scripture. However, the Worship Team also understands that the Saturday and Sunday services are very different. As they discerned the Spirit s direction for these services, it led them to a lively Sunday morning and a serene and meditative Saturday night. Though different, both services provide important ways for people to experience and worship God. As St. Paul s grows, we will continue bringing people closer to God in both services, and prioritize fellowship and getting to know each other better in Another goal for this year was to become more financially stable. We focused our worship services in October on financial stewardship, emphasizing that Jesus often talked about finances. For example, He said, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, (Matthew 6:21). If God is our treasure, our heart will be with God as well, and when God calls us to support God s church with our time, talents and finances, we should answer this call. We received 88 pledge cards with an increase in giving. This information helped the Finance Team create a balanced budget for the first time in three years. I am so inspired by St. Paul s commitment not only through the pledges received this year, but also with the Capital Campaign. Those who contributed have been faithful in their giving, and I am excited for what God will do with our church in Respectfully Submitted, Pastor Sami Pastor Pastor@stpaulserie.org 6

7 Director of Music Ministry 2018 was an exciting year for the Music Ministry at St. Paul s. The choir has continued to grow and now has 18 members. They have offered some very beautiful and moving anthems during worship. Please remember that anyone is welcome! Choir rehearses on Sunday morning at 8:15 AM and generally presents two anthems per month. A major job was completed this summer through the countless hours of work from John and Ellen Cooper and Brian McCowin. Over the years, the music library was shifted from room to room and became disorganized. They catalogued, counted, and categorized all of our choir music and created a new master file. It was an incredible amount of work and is very much appreciated! John continues to serve as the Music Librarian. The handbell choir practices every Sunday after church at 11:30 AM. The bell choir is currently in a period of transition and we are looking for more ringers! You don t have to be a proficient music reader to play bells if you can count and are willing to learn, we can show you the rest! I would like to extend a big thank-you to Ruthy May for all of her work organizing the bell choir. She helps communicate important information to our members and is a great recruiter! Our Saturday service is blessed with Rich Grisier s guitar playing, and Sunday morning by Hilary Philip s oboe playing. Our Section Leaders Christine Daughtery, Brendan Daughtery, and Will Steadman have provided musical offerings, in addition to singing in the choir. I was very excited this year to have two of our youth play the prelude for the 4 PM Christmas Eve service. Sebastien Jones played guitar and Quinn Gould played piano. They were both excellent! I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to serve at St Paul s, and for everyone who takes part in our music ministry. Megan and I feel blessed that our family is part of the St Paul s family. I m looking forward to what the future will bring! Peace in Christ, Andrew Rainbow Director of Music Ministry MusicDirector@stpaulserie.org 7

8 Director of Youth Ministry & Sunday School Ministry Our youth had a fun year, filled with service projects and activities to get every involved. We began the year with tubing at Peek n Peak (a favorite) and community service projects- like making soup for our shut-ins and making pillows for our military members, shut-ins, and college students. The kids also demonstrated their decorating skills and made cookies. With St. Paul s Pre-School, we painted nine cows and sheep for our pasture out front. The kids had a blast and each was colorful and unique. On Mother s Day, we made stepping stones with a ton of shells, jewels, and buttons. We also painted fifty ornaments and made cards for Christmas Cookie Trays. Camp Blast at Lutherlyn was an amazing day with worship outside and a lot of hiking, fishing, rock climbing, crafts, and of course- s mores. Since attending that day at camp, we had a few kids attend the week-long experience. Port Farms was extra special this year as Pastor Sami joined us in the fun. We jumped, played sports, rode bikes, slid down huge slides, played tag, and were buried in corn. Trunk-or-Treat had to be moved indoors because of rain. Even so, we were joined by eight Child Development Center & Pre-School families, as we gave out candy and shared a potluck dinner. Thanksgiving Feast was for the congregation and we had a talent show. We have a lot of great talent at St. Paul s! Pastor Sami and a few kids joined in the dancing. This year for Sunday School, we introduced a rotational schedule. It was implemented at the start in September with the help of Pastor Sami, Beth Kuric, and Heather McLaughlin. The rotational schedule has been very successful. The kids meet every Sunday with a different Bible lesson each month, rotating between music, games, cooking, or art/science. Each station incorporates fun and Christian lessons. The children are led to each station by a shepherd and then taught by a teacher. It is a great opportunity for the congregation to show their talents and interact with the children (plus it is only a commitment for one month!). We continue to need the help of the congregation to make this program successful and we appreciate everyone s continued support. Respectfully Submitted, Melissa Collins Director of Youth Ministry YouthDirector@stpaulserie.org 8

9 Director of Student Ministry From January through May 2018, Student Ministry s Sunday Night Live (SNL), served St. Paul s 7-12 graders and continued to meet with Youth Ministry s Adventure Kids (grades k-6) immediately following the educational hour at church. We met from 11:15 AM-1:15 PM. The students worked very hard to host several fundraising events- including the Soup Cook-Off, Pancake Breakfasts, selling Moe s tickets, a Blaze Pizza night, and others. In addition, the students helped host Scrapalooza (an all-day crafting event with the proceeds benefitting our Student Ministry), led by Michelle Fuller. The success of these many events and the support of the congregation provided the opportunity for eight students and two adults to attend the ELCA National Youth Gathering in Houston, Texas. Fundraising also helped several students attend Lutherlyn for a week. In Houston, we had a day of doing community service in a community center, a day of interactive learning in which we travelled through different booths and grew in our faith and expressed our faith in different ways, and a day of intimate worship and church within our own synod. Nightly, we would worship with thousands of other youth from all over the country. We met people from both Hawaii and Alaska and many other states! We also spent time fellowshipping as a church group as we broke bread together, went sightseeing, and did daily and nightly devotionals with just the ten of us. Adults and youth alike grew in their faith and had a great time while doing so. Amy Chiapa continued to teach Confirmation this year until May. Confirmation was taught each Sunday from 10:15-11:15 AM. In May, Pastor Sami confirmed another class of ninth graders. Effective July 1, Amy Chiapa resigned as Director of Student Ministry. We are grateful for her service in the role of Director of Student Ministry and are thrilled that she has stayed on as a volunteer for our high school students every other Sunday with her husband, Gabe. In Fall 2018, we hired a new Director of Student Ministry, Rachel Burkey, who brings much experience with her. Along with our new director, we welcomed a new Confirmation class of 8 students who meet weekly after our 9:00 AM service to study Scripture and the history of our Christian faith. Rachel and Pastor Sami teach alternating weeks, and in 2019, we hope to add another teacher from our community, so our youth have the opportunity to learn our faith from several backgrounds. In addition to studying Scripture at weekly sessions, our Confirmation students also took a field trip to one of our local synagogues to look deeper into the faith of our ancestors. It was a wonderful learning experience and a great chance to grow deeper in our faith with our Jewish brothers and sisters. In October, with the help of Michelle Fuller, the students helped facilitate another successful Scrapalooza with over 35 attendees. This event helps fundraise hundreds of dollars for our teens, so that they can attend future mission trips. In December, our students also had a Tacky Outfit Christmas Party to help celebrate the coming of our Lord. We had students from 7th-12th grade in attendance with games, fellowship, and even some singing. Respectfully Submitted, Amy Chiapa & Rachel Burkey Former & Current Director of Student Ministry StudentDirector@stpaulserie.org 9

10 Director of Child Development Center Ministry Child Development Center (CDC) maintained Star-3 status through Keystone Stars, continuing to provide a quality program to our families and children. Our work is led by the vision of the PA Early Learning Keys to Quality, which states that all families will have access to high-quality care and education for their children, fostering successful futures in school and in life. With the support of PA Keys through their many resources offered, CDC has made great strides in the development of an integrated and coordinated early childhood program through quality improvements and professional development. CDC continues to service children infant-aged through the fifth-grade. Over the past year, CDC has serviced over 55 families, totaling 81 children. Presently, there are 49 children in our infant, toddler, & preschool programs, as well as 32 school-aged children. Our before and after school-age program provides transportation to Millcreek, Grover Cleveland, and Montessori schools. CDC continues to maintain four vans and one bus. Throughout the year, CDC made several purchases and improvements in different areas. Thank you to all those who have supported the Child Development Center. Thank you, also, to the CDC staff for the amazing job they do with the children, the parents who entrust their children to us, and the Church for their continued support. God Bless! Respectfully Submitted, Dawn Chismar Director of Child Development Center Ministry CDCDirector@stpaulserie.org 10

11 Director of Pre-School Ministry Our pre-school is in full-swing as we enter the New Year of Our enrollment is currently at 49 students, with just a couple openings in each class. We currently offer a traditional program and an extended day pre-k program. Our staff consists of Tammi Ferrante, director/teacher; Sallie DiPlacido, teacher; Sandra Hall, teacher; and Lori Garske, teacher. We have Julie Dietz and Melissa Collins on our substitute list. Our staff has common goals and we all work well together. Our pre-school curriculum is aligned in accordance with the Millcreek Township School District for kindergarten readiness. In preparing our lesson plans, we always look for new ideas based on how the children learn best. We have quarterly assessments for parents to follow their child s progress. Newsletters are sent home monthly for parents general information. We offer parent conferences during the month of March; however, our door is always open if our parents would like to discuss their child at any other time. Our tuition rates are $95.00 per month for the traditional class and $ per month for the extended day pre-k class. We have an Open House & Registration Day in February for the following school year. We offer optional Scholastic book orders that earn bonus points for the classroom. With the bonus points we have earned, we have been able to purchase many classroom supplies and teaching aids at no cost to our program. This also helps keep our teaching materials up-to-date and our costs down. We continue to make a donation to the church on a monthly basis during the school year beginning in September and ending in May. Our pre-school staff would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to all who have donated their time, talents, and/or donations to our program. We truly appreciate everything! Respectfully Submitted, Tammi Ferrante Director of Pre-School Ministry PSDirector@stpaulserie.org 11

12 Director of Communication Ministry One of my goals for 2018 was to fully embrace the social media juggernaut and share St. Paul s information for all the world to see. While Facebook has really taken off within our current membership and also grown to include many in our larger community (we currently have 275 followers), both Twitter and Instagram have stalled. Our Instagram account has 56 followers and is followed mostly by other churches, various religious vendors, and other Christian venues. Our Twitter account has a modest following of current membership & friends of St. Paul s with 11 followers. In the last 3 months of 2018, we reached an estimated 2,315 new people on Facebook and 1,020 of those interacted with our page in some way. In December, we ran a promotional slideshow targeting all those who live in Erie County zip codes who were not already following our Facebook page. This highlighted our Christmas Eve worship times and shared a taste of who we are. From this promotional piece alone, we reached 1,635 new people, with 884 of those watching the slideshow, and 40 of those new people becoming new followers of St. Paul s page. Clearly, Facebook is a relevant and effective way of sharing our good news! Communication Ministry continued to encompass production of many printed materials- including annual reports, weekly announcements, devotionals, newsletters, and brochures. St. Paul s Annual Reports were distributed at our January Congregational Meeting, along with St. Paul s Directory. Many thanks to Jacqueline Barber for coordinating bulletin layout and production with input from Pastor Sami and Andrew Rainbow. The blue Weekly Announcements were printed and inserted into our bulletins every week, as well as shared electronically via the This Week weekly s to our congregation. Thank you to Lois Gilbert for faithfully collating and folding bulletins and other projects, as needed. St. Paul s Newsletter was produced monthly, except for the combined July/August issue, with submissions from our members. It was distributed electronically via This Week, St. Paul s website, & St. Paul s Facebook page. Printed copies were made available in St. Paul s welcome area located in the narthex, as well as distributed to our homebound friends, Pre-School students, and Child Development Center. Various postcards, flyers, brochures, & signage requests for many different ministries were fulfilled throughout the year, including brand new Christian education brochures for Fall 2018 and Winter Ongoing communication maintenance included the telephone system, outdoor vinyl banners, and indoor bulletin boards. Thank you to everyone who faithfully submitted articles, shared our events, & grew the St. Paul s community ever larger. Respectfully Submitted, Debbie Gross Director of Communication Ministry CommDirector@stpaulserie.org 12

13 Congregation Council President Mother Teresa famously said, Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. As I reflect back upon 2018, that quote reminded me how I felt when I agreed to serve as Congregational Council President. St. Paul Lutheran Church was again in a transitional stage, something my family I had had witnessed over our twenty years in Erie, but yet, with each transition, we seem to bind more tightly together and also open our arms to new members. This past year was no different. We witnessed the transition from Pastor Anita to Pastor Sami, and for the first time in St. Paul s history, we hosted an ordination. What an honor it was for us to be able to witness God s work in the form of Pastor Sami s installation as our newest pastor, after being recognized as called by God into service as a Lutheran Pastor. What a beautiful service and experience it was for all of us, and for our local Lutheran community. Sadly, we also said goodbye and thank you to Anita Bernhardt, our wonderful interim pastor who helped guide us through the call process and provided that bridge between Pastor Scott and Pastor Sami. Her kind, caring, and gentle style was the perfect fit for our congregation as we moved through another change, seeking God s guidance as we searched for a new spiritual leader. Many of you expressed to me and others how much Pastor Anita meant to you, particularly how important she was in your lives when someone close to you was ill or just needed spiritual encouragement. God truly blessed us by bringing her to St. Paul s also brought us new and exciting changes to our Sunday School and Student Ministry programs. We restructured Sunday School to include a rotational format, making the commitment to the program by our membership to one that people found easier and that allowed them to serve the church. We also saw a transition in our Student Ministry program as Amy Chiapa concluded her service to that program, allowing the addition of Rachel Burkey. St. Paul s has been Amy s home for a long time, and we are so grateful for her service over the years in many areas, including as a leader in our student programs. Her energy and her loving spirit kept our programs going and helped our teens form a connection with St. Paul s and the greater church that will serve them for a lifetime. Thank you, Amy, for sharing your talents as a Student Director. As we entered the fourth quarter of 2018, our focus centered on balancing our budget and reenergizing our stewardship program. Pastor Sami, joined by several members of Congregational Council, shared their experiences and talked about the importance of stewardship, always a difficult but important topic. All of this led to the passage of a more fiscally responsible budget and plan for In addition, we continue to grow our funds as part of the Capital Campaign, another important and vital initiative. Lastly, as I conclude my year as President of Congregational Council, I want to thank all of you for your support, energy, and helpful suggestions. God has truly blessed me and my family, having brought us to the St. Paul s community twenty years ago. The impact this congregation has had upon my children, in particular, is immeasurable. It has been my honor to serve St. Paul s this past year, and I look forward to what we can do in As Mother Teresa would say, let us begin. Respectfully Submitted, Kelly L. Zimmerman Congregation Council President President@stpaulserie.org 13

14 Worship Ministry The Worship Ministry was busy this year! We experimented with a projector and screen to enhance communication and sermon concepts. Grise Audio Visual loaned us a set-up. The congregation responded well to this addition. As a result, we recommended to Council to purchase a similar configuration. It will be installed soon in We also experimented with a colored LED lighting alternative around the cross, instead of putting up the colored liturgical drapes. While the congregation responded somewhat positively to the test, the bidded costs were rather high. We investigated another strategy and discovered that it would be very cost-effective to add a pulley system to the drape rod. This will be done on January 12, This innovation will prevent the crew from putting up the long extension ladders every time the liturgical calendar changes. It also lets us continue to use the beautiful drapes that we have that color match the altar coverings. Pastor Sami has worked to provide themed-approaches to our worship calendar, i.e. Draw the Circle Wide. These themes are coordinated with Andrew Rainbow, who puts corresponding music in the worship service. A special Veteran s Day sermon was prepared to highlight the idea of Armistice at the end of WWI, the original celebration. The choir has been singing songs that the congregation likes. They receive many compliments on their contributions to worship. The choir has added several new members to the choir this year. We welcome anyone who would like to join us. Andrew Rainbow has been including more organ playing in the service. The worshipers appreciate hearing this instrument. Our section leaders and oboist add so much to the music portion of our worship. We did not offer an Easter Cantata in 2018 because of budget shortfalls. We heard from many that they missed this special music. We hope to enjoin several local congregations to co-sponsor it for the 2019 Easter season. The handbell choir has offered several special selections during this past year. They are in need of additional bell ringers. PLEASE FEEL FREEE TO JOIN THIS GROUP AND OFFER YOUR TALENTS. Congregants continue to offer their time and talents as ushers, assistant ministers, communion assistants, acolytes, and crucifers. These persons are greatly appreciated by the congregation. They add so much to the smooth running of our worship services. We would like to extend our appreciation to Nancy Price, who served as Altar Care Coordinator for Sunday morning worship. She served in that capacity for many years. She passed the mantle on to several people. We especially appreciate that Karen Marzka has accepted most of that responsibility. Pastor Sami has begun a rotation of our young people participating in reading during worship. Congregants has expressed pleasure of having our future generation involved in worship. Our worship attendance has been steadily increasing throughout Worship Ministry Team Members include Jacqueline Barber, Becky Holcomb, Beth Kuric, Pam and Erich Zech, Pastor Sami, Karen Marzka, Noni Gardner, Andrew Rainbow, Sue Lang, and Larry Kessler. Much thanks and appreciation to all those members who contribute to the rich worship experience we have here at St. Paul s Lutheran Church. God has certainly blessed us with wonderful support. Respectfully Submitted, Larry D. Kessler Worship Ministry Team Leader Worship@stpaulserie.org 14

15 Adult Learning Ministry Paul s Table is our Adult Learning Ministry study group, where we gather and enjoy faithbuilding programs throughout the year all are invited! We had an active faith formation study year in We enjoyed Adam Hamilton s The Creed What Christians Believe and Why, in January and February This program was a video and book study reviewing the Apostles Creed and its application to our everyday lives. We then had a Lent bible study, Max Lucado s He Chose The Nails What God Did To Win Your Heart. This video Bible study explored the many gifts that Christ provided to us at His crucifixion. Paul's Table then featured Laura Story s When God Doesn't Fix It, a 5-week study, in April and May. This program explored some of the heroes of our faith, and showed how, despite their flaws, God was able to use them in extraordinary ways. Beginning in Fall 2018, we had another Adam Hamilton video Bible study, John, The Gospel of Light and Life, which focused on the Christ-centered nature of John s Gospel. This program was followed by two stand-alone programs on faith formation and prayer. We then reflected on the Advent season with Rick Warren s The Purpose of Christmas, focusing on Christ s birth, and the meaning of Christmas for celebration, salvation, and reconciliation. Paul s Table meets during the fall, winter, and spring for its announced programs, typically on Saturdays at 4:00 PM, prior to worship, and on Sundays at 10:15 AM, following worship. Paul s Table s facilitators for 2018 were Kevin Kuric, Jenny Forehand, Greg Zimmerman, and Gary Bax. We thank all participants in for their attendance and contributions to our faith community. Karen Madsen and Ken and Karen Thompson also will be serving as facilitators in If you are interested in participating as a facilitator or discussion leader, please let us know! Respectfully Submitted, Gary Bax Adult Learning Ministry Team Leader AdultForum@stpaulserie.org 15

16 Community Care Ministry What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. -James 2:14-17 St. Paul s has an active Community Care Ministry supported by many volunteers who, by God s grace, lead the following ministry projects: Patchwork of Love: Patchwork of Love distributes quilts and knitted items for our local community, with many going to Bethesda Home and Pfeiffer Burleigh school, and also for national and international distribution. Approximately 26 quilters are involved in this important and beloved ministry, with about 15 quilters on average coming every Tuesday since the beginning of the year. Quilts are placed on the pews for a blessing throughout the year. The group is an ecumenical wonder with Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, and even a Moslem quilter and a Buddhist quilter. Coordinated by Barb Toy, Patchwork of Love completed large quilts and small baby & lap quilts, bringing the number of completed quilts to a remarkable total of well over 7,758 quilts over the years! Patchwork of Love will exceed 8,000 quilts next year! Also, Patchwork of Love has given away dozens of knitted hats, knitted scarves, and pairs of knitted mittens. Holy Trinity's Pasta and Soup Kitchen: Larry Kessler, Anna Farantzos, Tim Seibert, Elysa Farrell, Linda Latva, and Linda Martz regularly volunteered in 2018 at Holy Trinity's Pasta and Soup Kitchen. Holy Trinity serves approximately 200 guests per week. Thanks to them for their commitment to this ministry! St. Paul s sponsored and hosted a Hot Dog Dinner on May 31 and approximately 60 people were served. Servers included Gary Bax, Jane Ford and her granddaughter Grayson, Cindy Dohanic, Jackie Lupo, Linda Martz, and Sharon Patterson. Congregational gifts are gratefully received for all Holy Trinity dinners through Food-of-the-Week. The Goat Project: We followed our 2017 cows with goats in 2018! St. Paul s congregation donated over $2,600 and we rounded up a nice herd of colorful goats symbolic of our contributions to Lutheran World Hunger. Thanks to Cindy Dohanic for initiating and spearheading this drive and ministry! Erie County CROP Hunger Walk: Peggy Fuhrman led St. Paul s efforts for the 2018 CROP Walk. St. Paul s congregation donated $1,830 to this worthy charity, with 12 walkers and 2 cheerleaders. We thank Peggy for her leadership and to all who participated and donated! Soul Kitchen: Coordinated by Linda Martz and Cindy Dohanic, St. Paul s held a very successful food drive to complement the 2018 CROP Hunger Walk. Grocery bags were distributed to the congregation, and over 60 were returned filled with non-perishable food items and paper goods, and then blessed for donation to Holy Trinity Pasta and Soup Kitchen. Wow! 16

17 Hygiene Kits Project & Diaper Projects: Jane Ford led the Hygiene Kit drive, which resulted in more than 20 hygiene kits donated from our congregation to Community Shelter Services. Mark Alexa, the director of CSS, was extremely appreciative. Cindy Dohanic led a successful effort to gather baby diapers, canned fruit, and cereal for Holy Trinity this summer. ELCA World Hunger Appeal: Cindy Dohanic coordinated the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and the SERRV International Fair Trade Handcraft Fair. Peggy Fuhrman was a big help to Cindy with this ministry. The Fair Trade Handcraft Fair proceeds are donated to the Holy Trinity Food Pantry. Cindy also sold Fair Trade Coffee after services with the proceeds going to hunger relief. The Christmas Giving Tree Team: Jessica Carr and Sara Beilharz coordinated The Giving Tree Team, which was wonderfully successful in sponsoring Christmas gifts for 12 families and 1 military veteran in Each family received two gifts for their children as well as a compete turkey dinner (12 turkeys). We doubled the number of families we helped from last year. Sara and Jessica commended the generosity of the congregation for this ministry. Thanks to all of those in our congregation who generously contributed to a Merry Christmas for the families! The Christmas Cookie Tray Team: Led by Terry Moyer and Ruth Moyer, the Christmas Cookie Tray Team ministry continues to grow and surpassed 2017 s efforts. Three dozen cookie trays were delivered, with all cookies donated by St. Paul s members in 2018, along with fudge cups, candy canes, and wrapped candy. The Christmas Cookie Tray Team had enough wrapped to put together a treat bag for each cookie tray. Thanks to the many congregation members who helped with baking, sorting and delivery! Winter Sock Drive for the Homeless: St. Paul s commenced a Winter Sock Drive for the Homeless in As of January 2019, our congregation donated approximately 175 pairs of new socks for the Homeless Emergency Mobile Shelter and St. Patrick s Haven. We thank all for your generosity. Thanks to all our St. Paul s volunteers for answering the call of the Holy Spirit, and may God bless our congregation members for their generous support of these important ministries! Grace and Peace in 2019, Gary D. Bax Community Care Team Leader ServiceAndOutreach@stpaulserie.org 17

18 Congregational Care Ministry Congregational Care consists of many different ministries: Visitation; Prayer Shawls; Soup; Home Communion; Altar Flower Deliveries; Christmas Cookie Trays; Faith, Family, and Friends; Military and College Student Connection, Patchwork of Love Knitted Hats; Greeting Cards; Bereavement Dinners; Grief Book Mailings; Memorials; HomeTouch and Bulletin Mailings; and Stephen Ministries. Members of this team for 2018 include the following: Michelle Fuller, Barb Davies, Terry Moyer, Ruth Moyer, Kathie Fry, Jane Ford, Connie Sloppy, Alice Eger, Lois Gilbert, Linda Martz, Ruth May, Cheryl Till, and Barb Toy. Pam Brady was the Council Liaison. The Visitation Ministry is a team that visits those who are hospitalized, at home, or in nursing homes. During these visits they also bring soup, prayer shawls, and distribute communion. The Prayer Shawls are knitted by members of our church family. We wish to thank all those who spend so many hours knitting for those in our church & community. Soup is provided by various church members and stored in the church freezer. There is a chart in the church kitchen to sign out soup. Altar Flower Deliveries is not just the giving of these flowers, but also a warm visit and a gift to someone who is homebound. Barb Toy is responsible for coordinating altar flower deliveries. Faith, Family, and Friends had an eventful 2018, led by Michelle Fuller. Their mission is to serve the members of our congregation by hosting various events throughout the year, to bring us closer together by sharing stories, helping one another, and enjoying fellowship. Some of the events that we hosted this past year included: Meet & Great for Pastor Sami, Ordination Reception for Pastor Sami, Farewell Reception for Pastor Anita, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Dessert Night, Ice Cream Social, Trash & Treasure Sale, and Potluck Dinners- including our resurrected Thanksgiving Feast & Talent Show. Yearly Christmas Cookie Trays are assembled and delivered a week prior to Christmas. This year, there were over 50 trays prepared. Terry Moyer and Ruth Moyer coordinate the assembly and delivery of the trays. Military Connection Ministry is coordinated by Barb Davies and is currently reaching out to approximately 10 military personnel. Barb is also in charge of donating knitted hats to those in the community. Kathie Fry is in charge of keeping in contact with our college students within our church family. Over 100 cards are sent out every 3-4 months to our congregation members as part of our Greeting Card Ministry; Cheryl Till is the contact person. Ruth May organizes and provides bereavement dinners. Ruth and her volunteers who furnish these dinners, enable a time for the bereaved to gather to nurture their bodies with food. It also gives those grieving a time to share memories. Terry Moyer is responsible for sending out grief books out four times a year to those who have endured a loss of a loved one. Linda Martz manages all memorials that come into the church. Stephen Ministry is growing and our present Stephen Ministers are providing care to members. We now have 8 Stephen Ministers. Many thanks and many blessings to all that give of their time and themselves to care for our church members. Respectfully Submitted, June Kessler Congregational Care Team Leader CongregationalCare@stpaulserie.org 18

19 Property Ministry Tasks and projects completed during 2018: The balance of the refurbished pews was received before Easter, completing this project. This included refurbishing not only the pews, but the baptismal fount, pulpit, altar, and several tables. The major project for 2018 was the conversion of lighting to LEDs. o Upgraded lighting in sanctuary from incandescent to LED bulbs using a donation given in honor of Anna Nelson s 100 th birthday, by her grandson Rick. o Converted lighting fixtures to LED in all hallways, offices, conference room, and approximately 85% of classrooms. This should result in a measurable savings in electricity ($$). A plan was developed for the refurbishment of the restrooms behind the sanctuary. The plan would result in one of the restrooms becoming handicap accessible. Execution of the plan has not yet begun. Investigated source of water damage to block walls in restrooms behind the sanctuary. Determined the cause (plugged drainage lines) and applied temporary corrections. Kept snow cleared from parking lots and sidewalks during Erie s worst winter snowfall. Thanks go to Tim Fuller. Kept the lawn cut and maintained the grounds. Many thanks to all who worked throughout the year to help keep St. Paul s comfortable and dry, clean and functional on beautiful grounds, allowing the ministry of St. Paul s to continue. Building Maintenance Team Members: John Erikson, Jered Carr, Gabe Chiapa, Tyler Bliley, Chris Panitzke, and Ron Till. Lawn Care & Grounds Maintenance Team Members: Mike McLaughlin, John Erikson, Ted Firment, Mike Barber, Nick Barber, Tyler Bliley, and Matt Scheuring. Respectfully Submitted, Ron Till Property Team Member Property@stpaulserie.org 19

20 Records, Data & Statistics Baptisms: 4 DeBello Jr, Jeffrey Julio Hildebrand, Olivia Ann Simmons, Aspyn James Simmons, Eli Charles First Holy Communion: 6 Conley, Cian Michael Gould, Qiunn Daniel Jacobitz, Naomi Miglicio, Jude Rinderle, Alexandra Marie Rinderle, Cameron Merle Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation): 5 Beilharz, Sophia Ann Buzzard, Jacob Donald Cunningham, Emma Grace Kwiatkowski, Louis Andrew Schau, Ellie Janee-Catherine Marriages: 3 Gould, Elizabeth & Scott, James Hunter, Brittany & Peterson, Kyle Jones, Danielle & Miglicio, Kain Funerals: 4 Hager, Roy James Kort, John R. Jack Panitzke, Carol D. Servey, Carl Milton Transfers In: 10 Burkey, Rachel Jackson, Lynn Jacobitz, Naomi Kelley, Karen Latva, Linda Pfalzgraf, Samantha Reitz, Benjamin Reitz, Mason Reitz, Max Tarazski, Inga Transfers Out: 7 Bernhardt, Anita Brooks, Madison Brooks, Kobie Brooks, Kristen Brooks, Kyleigh Goller, Jeff Goller, Pat Total Official Disciple Membership as of December 31, 2018: 423 Average Weekend Worship Attendance:

21 Finance Ministry 2018 was a year that was financially mixed, but negative overall. Our total income was down $8,851 for the year, mostly due to offerings. Fortunately, expenses were also lower than budgeted, by $12,376. Considering that we started the year with a $13,661 budget deficit, this ultimately left us with a deficit of $9,530, which will come out of the year s contribution to the Capital Fund (as we currently have no balance in our contingency fund). The Capital Campaign had a positive year. We currently have $141,320 in pledges, towards our goal of 164,000, over five years. $56,858 of it has been collected already, and applied to items including pew restoration, building interior lighting upgrades to LEDs, a new HVAC unit for the sanctuary, kitchen garbage disposal replacement, and a new set of office computers. As we are all stewards of God s world including the Earth and all items on it and thankful for the abilities He provides us to be good and productive disciples, it is our responsibility for each of us to consider, How is God calling on me to respond to God s presence in my life? To facilitate this, we had an increased emphasis on stewardship, including soliciting offering pledges for 2019; this should help us be better fiscal disciples, both personally for our giving mindfulness and also for the congregation s income reliability. We truly appreciate the work of the church staff and other volunteers in the execution of the financial and accounting duties throughout the year. These included but are not limited to: weekly counting and depositing of the offering, creating and mailing statements, paying bills, maintaining the ledger, and creating and distributing reports. If anybody else would like to get involved, please let any member of the Finance Team know! In summary, 2018 was a financially challenging year, with a deficit that was minimized, thanks to the diligence and efforts of many. We are in a stabilizing financial position entering 2019, and we look forward to enabling the maximization of our ministries in a fiscally responsible way. Respectfully Submitted, Bill Gross Treasurer & Finance Team Leader Finance@stpaulserie.org Team Members: Joanne Erikson, Steve Thelin, Brandon Nornhold, and Nick Barber. 21

22 2018 Final Income/ Expense Report CHURCH INCOME Thank Offering & Tithes Regular Weekly Envelope Thank Offering $243,150 Unmarked Loose Offering $2,383 Sunday School Children s Offering $170 Initial Offering $387 Christmas/Easter Offering $6,605 Total $252,695 Facility Usage General Facility Usage $6,437 Child Development Center Usage $48,960 Pre-School Usage $9,000 Total $64,397 Other Donations & Income Interest from Bank Accounts $9 Funeral Meal Donations $0 Miscellaneous One-Time Donations $3,809 Total $3,818 Total Church Income $320,910 EXPENSE Worship Ministries Director of Music Ministries $22,800 Substitute Pastor $1,750 Musicians & Vocalists $14,147 Worship Planning $2,325 Altar & Sanctuary Care $913 Welcome Ministry $0 Call Committee $3,624 Total $45,559 22

23 St. Paul's Lutheran Church Income/Expense Final 2018 Congregational Care Bereavement Ministry (Meals, Resources, Stephen Ministry) $578 Connection Ministry (HomeTouch; Faith, Family, & Friends) $224 Prayer & Devotion Ministry $50 Total $852 Faith Formation Adult Learning Ministry $628 Bible Book of Faith Ministry $0 Confirmation Ministry $754 Sacrament Instruction Ministry $60 Sunday School Ministry $1,677 Director of Student Ministries $6,069 Student Ministries (Grades 7-12) $441 Director of Youth Ministries $9,336 Youth Ministries (Grades K-6) $791 Total $19,756 Service & Outreach Northwestern PA Synod & ELCA Mission Support $18,996 Northwestern PA Synod Assembly, Other Service & Outreach $282 Total $19,278 Leadership & Administration Pastoral Leadership $70,321 Director of Administration $42,713 Director of Communications $6,180 Newsletter, Website, Advertising, $540 Fees & Surcharges $2,133 Human Resources $12,730 Office Equipment & Materials $8,338 Postage, Shipping & Handling $1,738 Total $144,693 23

24 St. Paul's Lutheran Church Income/Expense Final 2018 Facility & Property Sexton $8,200 Repairs & Maintenance Care $3,226 Building Fund Savings (Annual Capital Fund Contribution) $12,000 Snow Removal, Treatment & Salt $3,373 Cleaning & Janitorial Supplies $3,990 Fire Department Donations $200 Insurance $13,837 Mortgage $25,764 Pest Control $1,200 Safety & Security, Fire Extinguishers $306 Electricity & Natural Gas $20,468 Telephone & Internet Service $3,957 Trash & Recycling Removal $2,517 Water & Sewage Usage $1,264 Total $100,302 Total Church Expenditures $330,440 CHURCH NET REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES -$9,530 Child Development Center Ministry Total Child Development Center Revenue $471,894 Child Development Center Expenses CDC Program & Operations $14,046 CDC Human Resources $414,039 CDC Administration $60,298 CDC Vehicle Expenses $8,593 CDC Other Expenses $23,968 Total Child Development Center Expenses $520,944 CHILD DEV. CENTER NET REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES -$49,050 24

25 St. Paul's Lutheran Church Income/Expense Final 2018 Pre-School Ministry Total Pre-School Revenue $60,367 Pre-School Expenses Pre-School Program & Operations $3,025 Pre-School Human Resources $42,919 Pre-School Administration $9,050 Pre-School Other Expenses $349 Total Pre-School Expenses $55,343 PRE-SCHOOL NET REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURES $5,024 Designated Giving and Donations Student Mission Trip $2,790 Memorials $9,789 Patchwork of Love $1,017 Capital Campaign $33,658 Thrivent Choice Dollars $4,411 Adult Learning Fund $846 Erie Community Foundation Endowment $60,694 Child Development Center Grant Fund $4,309 Pre-School Contingency $31,344 Child Development Center Contingency -$27,761 NOTE: Mortgage Balance with Mission Investment Fund (ELCA): $288,419 25

26 WELCA - Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Treasurer s Report for 2018 Beginning Balance $ Receipts Regular Offerings $ Least Coin Offerings Pennies for Poverty 9.31 Love Offering 8.00 Thank Offering 3.00 Total Receipts $ Disbursements NWPA/SWO Women of the ELCA (50% Regular Offerings) $ Least Coin (to Church Women United) 4.89 Pennies for Poverty (to NWPA/SWO WELCA) 6.61 Love Offering (to WELCA, Chicago) 8.00 Total Disbursements $ Ending Balance 12/31/2018 $ In His Service, Barbara K. Toy Treasurer HopeCircle@stpaulserie.org 26