THE BALSAM BRANCH October 2018

Transcription

1 THE BALSAM BRANCH October 2018 Balsam Lutheran Church 1115 Mains Crossing Amery, Wisconsin Pastor Dan Watland Church Website: Church Phone: Church Balsam Branch Editor: Bonnie Corcoran Pastor s Pen 4 Keys to Spiritually Renewing the Church Over and over again, the evidence about renewing the church points to a clear conclusion: you can t renew the church without spiritually grounding and renewing the people who comprise it. Try to renew a congregation apart from this and you are probably wasting your time. Lasting change in the church requires spiritual roots period. There are four levels of work that seem essential in this work. Each of these offers an important aspect of spiritual life. 1. Biblical foundations teach people to read the Bible, appreciate the gospel message that it bears, and listen for God s calling to them in it. 2. Contemplation equip people to spend time in contemplation. The use of silence and the ability to listen and discern God s voice to them is an essential and often missing part of many Christian's practices. Often people are 1 uncomfortable and not even sure how to spend time in silence - help them learn! 3. Conversation spiritual disciplines include communal practices. Making space for people to respectfully discuss what they are hearing from God in scripture and in silence provides space for creativity and support. 4. Motivating and encouraging action ultimately, the fruits of these disciplines will produce action. Work that engages service and justice is just as spiritually essential as the quiet of contemplation that seems so different from it. These elements are ALL needed for a congregation to be spiritually renewed in ways that lead to active change and transformation. The dance between contemplation and action, guided by leaders who equip and encourage and lived out in community with other followers of Jesus can renew people s faith and faithfulness. People like that will be better able to renew the congregations in which they participate. Do this work first. It is foundational. There s more left to do if a congregation wants to renew and find a new chapter in its ministry. But leave

2 this spiritual work out and you will be forced to settle for short-term fixes and work for transformation that will rarely last. Peace, Pastor Dan Leader/Communion Schedule: 09/30 Pastor Baardseth 10/07 Pastor Dan 10/14 Pastor Dan Communion 10/21 Pastor Dan Communion 10/28 Pastor Baardseth Balsam Lutheran Church Unapproved Minutes of the Church Council September 11, 2018 In Attendance: Bob LaBathe, Sue Fougner, Marlyn Bottolfson, Gail Peterson, Betty Collins, Dawn Costello, Vicki Hammer, Michelle Stone and Pastor Dan. Absent: Sue Albright Bob called the meeting to order, determining a quorum. Betty led in devotions. Secretary s Report: Accepted as submitted. Treasurer s Report: Accepted as submitted. Committee Reports: Worship & Music: Did not meet, but will meet in October Stewardship: Nothing to report. Finance: Pastor Dan has documented a mileage expense from January July of this year in the amount of $ He has been paid an allowance of $1, up to this time, leaving an excess of $1, to be reported as taxable income. It appears that we have overestimated the mileage allowance. This being the case we would like to switch to the IRS mileage rate for reimbursement for the year 2019, this would 2 correct this & is the most equitable way to deal with his business travel according to the Synod Salary standards. All mileage turned in would then be brought to the council for approval. As Pastor Dan works part time we have also compared the 2019 Synod Salary Standard for 11 years of experience to The year 2018 was $46,953 & 2019 will be at $47,893, that is a 2% increase. We would like to stay at 11 years of experience for 2019 with the increase in wages, then in 2020 increase the years of experience to 12 years. We would be looking at these issues as we work on the 2019 budget. Pastor approves of the mileage change and the 11 years of service for There was a question about Pastor Dan s pay for the 3rd Sunday of the month. This will remain the same for the rest of 2018, and it will be addressed with the budget for 2019 Staff Support: Did not meet. Property: The water issue has been completely corrected, and we will go back to yearly testing. General Sprinkler was contacted about the problems with the sprinkler. They came and inspected the system and found some small air leaks and tightened them. The system is still not working correctly. General Sprinkler will be contacted again. The Can Recycling drop off area has been re-located to the north side of the storage shed due to the wind conditions in that area. Prayer Ministry/Adult Education: The Prayer Partner event was held on August 22nd. This consisted of a meal with homemade ice cream. They also participated in some outdoor games. Witness & Outreach: Planning the Fall Dinner this will be held on October 7th. Sign up sheets will be available for donations &

3 volunteers to help set up, serve and clean up. Social Ministry: The Kleenex drive for Lein Elementary will run thru the end of October. Youth Education: Sunday School classes will begin on September 16th. Confirmation classes have begun. Memorial Fund: Did not meet. WELCA: Some members of WELCA will be going to the Leadership Conference in Hayward at the end of September. Pastor s report: Reviewed as submitted. Old Business: 1) Taunya Kobernick has agreed to help fill the organist position as needed, she would play the piano. 2) Research was done on several different projector systems and have suggested the one that has been recommended by Full Compass Inc. out of Madison that would best meet our needs. Would like to purchase 2 projectors for approximately $3,000. There is some money designated for this but will ask the memorial fund for money to help pay for this. With the approval of the Memorial Fund Committee Council approved this purchase. New Business: 1) UMOS has finished their year here and will be departing on September 12th. Rick Ashley and Bob LaBathe did the walk through with UMOS and found some issues that UMOS will correct. There are three rooms that will need to be repainted with the cost being covered by UMOS. 2) New member Sunday will be held on September 23rd. There will be cake and coffee following the service. We reviewed area prayer concerns and closed with prayer. Respectfully submitted, Sue Fougner, Church Council Secretary OCTOBER YOUTH SESSION SCHEDULE 10/07 Youth sessions from 8:30 to 9:45 am 10/14 Youth sessions from 8:30 to 9:45 am 10/21 Youth sessions from 8:30 to 9:45 am 0/28 Youth sessions from 8:30 to 9:45 am OCTOBER CONFIRMATION SCHEDULE 10/03 Class 6:00 7:30 pm 10/10 Class 6:00 7:30 pm 10/17 Class 6:00 7:30 pm 10/24 Class 6:00 7:30 pm 10/31 Class 6:00 7:30 pm Amery Red Cross Blood Drive: Monday, October 8, 1 to 6 PM and Tuesday, October 9 at Our Savior s Lutheran Church, noon to 6pm. Walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment call Vicki at or Sheeran at or go online at redcrossblood.org. Balsam Lutheran Scrip Every Sunday following the worship service, Scrip is available. Need any extra gas to go out for some fall leaf drives? Time to get ready for Halloween candy? Need any extra scrip to get ready for trick -or -treaters? 3

4 Budget Requests All committees need to have their budget request in to Nancy Ashley by October 31 so the November council can discuss the proposed budget. Collection items for back-packs: October: toothpaste November: bar soap December: deodorant January: shampoo Kleenex for Kids Let s again collect 3 boxes of Kleenex for each of the 30 classrooms at Lien Elementary, 90 boxes altogether. 13 Allison (Egan) Springer 14 Vince Kobernick October Birth days 22 Mike Morel 27 Amy Johnson 28 Charley Cran Volunteer Opportunity Interfaith Caregivers helps seniors in Polk County with yard chores every spring and fall. We are always looking for groups to help with raking, bagging, 1st story gutter cleaning, 1st floor window washing, trimming small trees and bushes, and moving lawn furniture. If you have a group that would be interested in helping us this fall, please contact me. I will match your group with a senior citizen in need in your area. Contact me at or me to volunteer! I look forward to hearing from you! Tammy Berg Prayer Ministry Prayer Shawl Ministry Please let Bonnie Corcoran at or Nancy Bottolfson at know if there is someone in need of personal prayer, a visit and a prayer shawl. Prayer Requests Prayer Chain, please contact: Julaine Berglund at or her at jdberglund@amerytel.net or call Esther Nelson at Elim s Fall Dinner Everyone is invited! Elim will be sponsoring their Fall Harvest Dinner on Saturday, October 20, 4-7 PM at Elim Church in Range. The menu will feature turkey, ham, and all the trimmings. Adults: $9, Children 6-10: $4. Carry-Outs are available. A craft and bake sale will be held during the dinner hours. Packing Backpacks We will start packing backpacks on Oct. 2 and continue every other week through-out the year. Thank You! A big thank you to the generous people at Balsam. Because of you we have filled 60 school backpacks for Lutheran World Relief. That is up from 40 last year. The children are blessed to have caring people like you. Thanks again, Mike and Lila Christensen. The recycle area for cans has been re-located to the north side of the storage shed. 4

5 Fund Raiser We are going to hold a Fund Raiser. We will call it "Turn Up the Heat". On October 7 we will put 100 envelopes on a table in the fellowship hall. On each envelope there will be a dollar amount. I am asking members to take an envelope with the dollar amount of their choice and donate that amount to Turn Up the Heat. Put your donation back in the envelope and deposit it in the offering plate. Please designate your check to Turn Up the Heat Fund. We will run this fund raiser for the months of October and November. This is not to replace your weekly giving; we are asking for more help during the heating season. Thank You, Bob Work Day October 6 will be a Fall Work Day. There is outside work to be done: pruning, Planting, washing building, general maintenance outside. The inside also needs to be prepared and the ladies will be looking for help with the Fall Dinner. The more the merrier. Bob Reminders SMOKERS- Please dispose of your cigarette butts in the proper containers or your car. Please do not just throw them on the ground for others to clean up. Recycling of aluminum cans means just aluminum cans not plastic bottles or tin cans in the in the bags we save at church. Plastic bottles and tin cans should be taken to Amery. Also please use stronger bags, not Wal-Mart bags. We do appreciate your contribution of aluminum cans to our youth program. Thank You, Bob 5 Salvation Army Believe it or not...the Red Kettle Campaign is just around the corner! I am hoping your church will sign up early to take a day or two. Signing up early gives you choice of days! This year, sign up is super easy. We have a new site! You will need to create a new log on but once you do, it is so easy to go back in, change or add shifts. It s pretty great and I am happy that we finally have an EASY way to get signed up for our volunteers. If every church would just take a day or two to help us volunteer, I know we could fill the majority of our shifts and have a successful campaign this year! For those in your church who are wondering...90% of the dollars raised in the kettle campaign stay in Polk County to help Polk County residents in need and our homeless. Dollars are also used in our Backpack Program as well. Please sign up early and let me know if I can answer any questions on our new site or if you would prefer I just sign you up! Angela Moulton, Salvation Army Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us a crucified God must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world. John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life