August 10, 2021

Holy Trinity Council Meeting Minutes Tuesday, August 10, 2021 6:00pm Held in person at church

Present: Tim Krick, Cristina Dolcino, Kristen Crawford, Judy Evans, Linda Edwards, Paul Karl, Erlinde Beliveau Absent: Julie Moore

We Gather In God’s Name Opening Prayer

  1. Blessings – filled with times with family and friends as well as vacations. An update on how Julie’s extended visit to help her mother was shared. Prayers sent her way.
  2. Thank You Cards - to Martha Belanger for organizing food/kitchen prep/ordering for Len Klein’s funeral.
  3. Devotions - Pastor Theme: Discussion focused on sharing and knowing some of our individual faith stories. These stories are the foundation of exploring “Why are we doing what we are doing now? How do these stories lead us into our next faith chapter?” For more reflections refer to Chapter 5 of How To Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going by Susan Beaumont.
  4. Meeting minutes June 8, 2021 - approved on line (no meeting took place in July 2021)

We Celebrate and Give Thanks for the Past

  1. Treasurer Report • See attached report • Offering is lower for the month of July and spending is low as well. • Kristen also said she will call Kara regarding a CD up for renewal. 
    2. Secretary Report
    • See attached report. • David requested feedback regarding the highway sign design. Feedback was shared and Erlinde will convey this to David.
    1. Pastor’s Report • See attached report.
    2. Ministry Team Reports a. Serve the Lord – Paul

• No report. Paul will be meeting with Cheryl and Jessica tomorrow. • Kristen questioned if we could get together youth for service projects. b. Grow in Faith- Julie • No report. C. Come Together - Linda • No report. Will be meeting next week with plans to meet quarterly. • Discussion focused on maintaining one service or returning to two services on Sunday. Decision was made to maintain one service for the time being. Linda will talk to our musicians regarding how this would impact them. • Discussed special event which would be a fall church picnic. Possible dates are 9/12, 10/3? Pastor will talk to the Bernths to see if they would like to head up the food organization of this event. We Seek God’s Direction for our Church

  1. Review of Covid Data: For the next couple of weeks we will not have a mask mandate but continue with our “self-policing”. People for the most part have chosen to mask up for indoor services. This will be continued to be monitored as Covid data is updated.
  2. Conversation about book, How to Lead occurred in devotional time with individual faith stories shared.
    We Look to the Future
  3. Discussion regarding policy guidelines for funerals took place. Pastor shared on how in the past he worked closely with funeral homes who would charge one unit price which encompassed specific line item payments to the musicians, church administrative personnel, pastor, as well as food purchases. His past church involvement also included a fee to use the church kitchen. Often funerals take place on a Saturday (not a work day for staff). Much discussion ensued. There was a range of past experiences: Some council members come from practices where they have assumed these costs as part of the funeral expenses. Others have paid some of these costs but not as an official line item but as a donation. Others assumed the church absorbs these costs as one of the church’s functions/roles. Some discussion pursued about making line items to cover costs of food. Linda shared that churches are looking to pay to have their financial work out serviced, this maybe the case for some of the funeral process as well, due to our societal shift of less volunteer hours being available overall. Pastor suggested to develop guidelines that include paying the musicians, administrator/technology ($50), and food ordering ($75), with an optional and suggested donation to the Pastor of $200.
    Plan: To wait a month to allow members to think about this before guidelines are firmed up and decided upon.
  4. Agenda Items for next month: Funeral Guidelines.
  5. Cristina would like to have the Council over for dinner. Date of Friday Sept. 10th was chosen.
  6. Council Meetings – Will meet at church: Tuesday September 14th; Tuesday October 12

Closing Prayer