October 2008
Most churches do a reasonably good job of looking backward. They know where they’ve been and where they come from. Of course, that is important to keep one grounded in the faith.
The flip side of the issue is how good are we at looking into the future?
The recent turmoil on Wall Street should be instructive to us. We don’t want to be a people who float along in oblivion until suddenly we find ourselves in trouble because of events that we failed to anticipate. We don’t want to spend all our time rushing from one crisis to another, putting out fires. We don’t want to solve present problems by mortgaging our future.
You often hear it said in the financial planning world, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” There’s a degree to which that is true in churches as well.
The proof of that is in the fact that the fastest growing churches tend to be new churches and nondenominational churches. They don’t have much history behind them and so they are far more invested in focusing on the future.
There’s no reason why a congregation cannot respect and honor its heritage while at the same time looking toward the future. We want to build on the past, not ignore it. We want to promote a healthy mission that grows the love of Christ in our part of the world.
In that spirit, the church council is forming a long-range committee to see where we are headed in the next 10-20 years, where we want to be headed, what we need to do to get to where we want to be, and what we need to spend to get to where we want to be. Please support that committee, offer input when asked, and pray for those who serve on it.
The future can be a great place; let’s be ready for it!
Salem Church Council Minutes
September 11, 2008
The meeting was called to order by President Chuck Taylor, with the following members in attendance: Chuck Eilers, Rayma Frank, Jodi Hitz, Gary Kessler, Mike Linch, Dennis Nardy and Sherri Nissen. Also in attendance were Flossie Roberts, Lou Ann Snodgrass, Pastor Nate and Margaret Kneedler.
Devotions were led by Jodi Hitz.
M/S/C by Rayma Frank and Flossie Roberts to approve the September minutes.
Correspondence: none at this time.
Pastor’s Report:
a) The fall church season is in full swing with Sunday school underway and
Confirmation and Kid Squad starting.
b) Pastor will be gone Sunday, October 12th. Lutheran Services of Iowa will be here
to assist with services.
Treasurer’s Report was given by Mike Linch.
a) Contributions are keeping up with expenses.
b) Money from interest was used to pay $82.53 toward the new mugs with $ 200.34
balance. M/S/C by Chuck Eilers and LouAnn Snodgrass to use the memorial fund
of Maxine Whan to cover the mug expense.
c) M/S/C by Gary Kessler and Rayma Frank to move Memorial money to the Money
Market account at 3.99% interest.
d) The Nelson Family Memorial earned $ 274.00 interest in June. Report from Finance
Committee suggesting to set up a Scholarship Fund.
M/S/C by Sherri Nissen and LouAnn Snodgrass to approve the Treasurer’s report.
Old Business:
a) Long Range Planning Committee; eight people have agreed to serve on the
committee. Others to be called.
b) Sanctuary: The contractor has been paid, with $ 800.00 taken off the original
cost. The contractor will return once a year to spot check the completed work.
c) $ 1500.00 bid to sheet rock the sanctuary.
New Business:
a) The Endowment has received a $ 10,000.00 gift from the Estate of Flossie Mosman.
The interest from the gift is to be used for current expenses. The gift is currently
in an account earning $ 4.3% interest for two years. M/SC by Rayma Frank and
Dennis Nardy to accept the gift.
b) Roof bid; approximately $ 60,000 from Hedberg and Son Roofing from Des Moines.
Insurance has $ 7,500 with $ 1,000 from Thrivent to go toward the cost.
c) Agenda for Special Congregational Meeting; Pastor’s recommendation for the
Nelson Memorial. M/S/C by LouAnn Snodgrass and Gary Kessler.
Roof Repair: M/S/C by Sherri Nissen and Gary Kessler.
d) Friends of the Library will not be using the Fellowship Hall the weekend of
Balloon Days for their Book Sale. There was a conflict with the Hall previously
being booked.
Committee Reports:
Christian Education:
* Kid Squad and Confirmation will start on September 17.
* Youth served Farmer’s Market, Monday, September 9th and raised $ 260.00
* There will be eight youth in confirmation the year.
* The first Sunday had twenty-two children attend Sunday School
* Youth wishing to attend camp and requesting a scholarship will be required
to attend Sunday School and assist in fund raising projects.
Social Ministry
* CROP Walk will be on October 5th. The Pizza Ranch will donate 15% of their
buffet and all tips on Monday, September 29th from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
* Salem will be serving Open Table on November 4th.
* The next meeting will be October 7th.
Church Property
* See new business for roof project and proposal
Worship & Music
* No report provided.
* Question to council about a Children’s Choir
Stewardship
* No report
Finance Committee
* Requests input/assistance to the Long Range Planning Committee and Council
on the Nelson Family Memorial.
* Next meeting October 8th.
M/S/C by LouAnn Snodgrass and Dennis Nardy to adjourn the meeting.
The next Council meeting will be October 9, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. Opening devotions will by led by Sherri Nissen. The meeting adjourned and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted:
Sherri Nissen, Council Secretary
Church Council will be on Thursday, October 16th at 6:30, not October 9th.
Special Congregation Meeting
September 14, 2008
President, Chuck Taylor called the meeting to order after determining there was a quorum. Pastor Nate led us in prayer. M/S/C Francis Roberg and Mike Linch to accept the agenda.
Eleanor Nelson Memorial $ 150,000
Council recommendation to tithe 10%; the remaining to be managed by the Endowment Committee with guidance from Finance Committee and Council. M/S/C to accept Pastor Nate’s proposal for the Eleanor Nelson Memorial by Rodney Mahn and Don Mosman.
New Roof
To repair the entire flat roof, excluding the steeple. Bid from Hedberg and Son of Des Moines for approximately $ 55,000 with gutters as is. Bid from Hedberg and Son of Des Moines to tear the roof down to the plywood, fix all bad sheets, and put a slope on the roof and bridge over the gutters for approximately $ 60,000. We have received $ 7,400 from the insurance company for hail damage and $ 1,000 from Thrivent. An additional $ 2,600 from insurance if roof is repaired in a timely manner. M/S/C by Arlan Biere and Don Butler for the Council to have the authority to prepare the flat roof/gutters at the estimated cost of $ 60,000 or within reason of Council and the Church Property Committee final approval.
Fund Raising
M/S/C by Mike Linch and Randy Cook to allow the Finance Committee to study feasibility of fund raising efforts, loan or possible use of the Eleanor Nelson Memorial funds to proceed with the roof project.
M/S/C by Don Mosman and Rodney Mahn to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherri Nissen, Council Secretary
Birthdays
10/03 Arlan Biere 10/17 Willard Peterson
10/05 LaVerne Anderson Deb Roberg
Jack Freese 10/18 Larry Peppers
10/07 Becky Nardy 10/20 Mike Linch
10/09 Barb Bjorn 10/24 Chris Sherrod
Gary Kessler Alexander Winborn
10/10 Amanda Nissen 10/25 Darrel Wilson
10/16 John Schlaht 10/28 Isaac Sedlmayr
Khalil Sherrod 10/30 Chris Cass
Anniversaries
10/13 Mark & Brenda Sedlmayr
10/16 Russell & Judith Wachter
10/23 Dave & Barb Abildtrup
Ron Levine, Lois Olsen, Ella Groff, Marge Hanson, Janice Peterson, and Willard Peterson. We ask God to send his Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen these individuals.
Pfc Emily Cruise, Pfc. Matthew Cruse, Major David Cruse, Pvt. Aaron Cunningham, Chief Msgt. David Groff, MGY Sgt. Mark Kinkade, Str. Airman Travis Mathis, SN Tony McNaught, SWCN Beth McNaught, SRA Zacary Sedlmayr, Col. Vic Wager III, Joseph Woodcock—We ask God to lead our young men and women who are protecting our country and serving in the Middle East. Please keep our servicepersons and the families of our military in your prayers.
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S LOVE
August 2008 January to August 2008
Contributions $ 9,678.50 $ 84,119.60
Expenses 9, 982.73 85,892.23
Net Loss ( 304.23) ( 1,772.63)
Because God said, “Bring the whole tithe…Test me in this and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
Malachi 3:10
AVERAGE SUNDAY ATTENDANCE (first 3 Sundays)
113
Thank You
Paul and I thank the congregation for their support through prayers, cards and food, during this last bit of my poor health. I am not much of a believer in the effectiveness of third person prayers, but the psychological lift of knowing that others are concerned about your well-being is priceless. Again, thank you.
Paul & Pat Grumley
Adult Education
During the month of October, we will be looking at one of the more fascinating and neglected books of the Bible: Proverbs. Despite its relatively low standing in Protestant theology, this book has had a remarkable influence on the church and society that continues to this day. See where Proverbs has taken us, and discover how this Book of Wisdom continues to fulfill the Bible’s purpose of creating faith.
NOTE: Adult Ed in October will be:
October 5
October 19
October 26
THERE WILL BE NO ADULT EDUCATION ON OCT. 12.
A Note from Our Youth
Successful and Fun: two words to describe our fundraising efforts at the local Farmer’s Market. A BIG thank-you to Bert for having the insight to try something different and getting us signed up to serve meals. We served sloppy joes, chips, bars and a drink on May 19th, June 23rd and September 8th, raising a total of $ 1,035 for our youth’s fees toward upcoming camps, Youth Quake or items for Kid Squad.
To the parents and kids who took time to be there each Monday, thank-you for all your efforts setting up, serving and cleaning up. We had our busy times and our “goofy” times, but all-in-all it was a fun time!
To the congregation—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and supporters of our youth—thank-you for all your donations to make this such a success! We asked for buns, chips, bars and even ketchup and forks and you shone through as you have in the past. Thank-you to those who came to the park to eat with us and those who helped spread the word that we would be there. Many hands make light work, especially in the company of friends!
This is a notice for all families of children grades three through high school who might wish to send children to Bible camp next summer. The Salem Board of Education feels that in order for camp attendance to have its greatest impact, regular Sunday School attendance needs to be happening throughout the year. Beginning this coming summer, Salem is willing to help fund camp attendance camp scholarships provided two requirements are met:
1) The student desiring to go to camp has a 75% Sunday School attendance
record for the year. This is the equivalent of attending Sunday School
three out of four Sundays every month.
2) The family of the student contributes or assists with all fundraisers for
going to Bible camp.
Students in the past who have attended Riverside Bible Camp in Story City have had wonderful faith and fellowship experiences there and have looked forward to going back year after year. If you want your child to have similar experiences in the future, please be involved in Christian Education throughout the year and have fun being a part of the fundraisers to make it all possible in the summer!
Sunday School attendance has begun well this year. Whether or not you intend to send a child to camp this summer, please continue to place a high priority on your children’s Christian Education throughout the year. It WILL make a difference in their lives.
Salem Board of Education
Calling all Salem Middle School Students!
Salem Christian Education Committee will be offering a Middle School Hangout for all Salem youth in 6th, 7th and 8th grades and their friends on the Creston early out days. This would be twice a month from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Salem. For October this would be on the 8th and 22nd. We want to give our youth a safe place to be afterschool. We hope to see our middle school students at Salem on October 8th.
Junior Youth
Attention 6th, 7th and 8th graders: Please let Joni know by October 5th if you will be attending Youth Quake in Des Moines, January 16-18, 2009. Early bird deadline is October 22nd. There is a $40 non-refundable deposit due at sign-up October 5th.
WOMEN OF THE ELCA
Miriam Circle will meet on Thursday, October 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Becky Nardy, with Nancy Taylor as Bible lesson leader. Miriam Circle is in charge of shut-ins and meals on wheels in October.
Rebekah Circle will meet on Thursday, October 9th at 1:15 p.m. in the Fellowship hall. Flossie Roberts will be hostess and Dorothy McNaught will lead the Bible lesson.
All women and any friends are welcome and invited to attend either of these circle meetings.
Early in 2008, Thank Boxes were placed in all mail boxes so everyone could participate in giving Thanks for all our many blessings. These boxes will be collected on Sunday, October 26th. If you won’t be able to be in church on that Sunday, the Thank Boxes can still be collected in early November or at November circle meetings. All proceeds will be forwarded to Global Health Missions.
If anyone has news or concerns for the women, at any time, please contact me (Bev Butler) at home, 782-4050.
Bev Butler
October Meals on Wheels Drivers
October 6th
Bev & Don Butler
Carolyn & Arlan Biere
Joyce and LaVerne Anderson
October 13th
Bev & Don Butler
Carolyn & Arlan Biere
Jan & Chuck Eilers
October 20th
Bev & Don Butler
Carolyn & Arlan Biere
Floyd & Janet Nesbit
October 27th
Carolyn & Arlan Biere
Linda Aaseng & Linda Huffman
Helen & Don Mosman