Welcome to St. Jacob's Lutheran Church

Good Things at St. Jacobs:
• Church Office Renovation
• Vacation Bible School
• Adult attendance at VBS was up and encouraging
Bob noted that the church is doing well on this year’s budget and are meeting expenses for 2023.

Council extended a thank you to the Journey Sunday School Class for their efforts in renovating the church office. A drop-in after church service one Sunday will be planned for the congregation.

A congregational workday will be scheduled in September to work on various items around the church and church grounds. Specific tasks will be identified prior to the workday.

Report of Ministry Teams:
• Safety – Don Dease thanked the Safety Team for the work they are doing to make our church a safe environment.
• Christian Education – Vacation Bible School was a great success. Lots of people in attendance.
• Congregation Care – Planning for Homecoming on October 15 continues.
Old Business:
• Fresh Eyes Update: Ongoing focus on Mercy Bag ministry, card ministry, and property and renovations.
New Business:
• On July 30, a representative from the NALC will give a temple talk before worship about the NALC Disaster Response. Council will be looking at assisting the NALC by using a portion of the bus shed as a storage area.

Good Things at St. Jacobs:
• Isabelle Peeples confirmation and lunch
• Safety Team Certification for operation of safety equipment
• Church office renovation project

Pastor Gary Blobaum will serve as supply pastor on July 9 and 16th while the Pastor is away in the Congo.
Pastor David was elected vice-president of the Carolina Mission Region.
Report of Ministry Teams:
• Safety – Eight (8) members of the congregation completed the Medical Response Training. May 23.
• Congregation Care – Lutheran Men will provide 50 pounds of BBQ for the Homecoming meal on October 15.
• Worship and Music – New paraments received and will be displayed this Sunday.
Old Business:
• Church Office Renovations are going well. New Business:
• Council discussed an opportunity to assist the Disaster Response Team. Council will consider using a portion of our bus shed as a disaster response staging area.

Meeting Good Things at St. Jacobs:
• Easter Egg Hunt for Children was enjoyed by all
• A “Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit” – Good information and attendance
Pastor will be on vacation May 8-13.
Confirmation of Isabelle Peeples is May 21. Council voted to approve a luncheon in her honor after service on that day.
Based on a recommendation from Pastor, Council voted to name Pastor Andy Eargle as Pastor Emeritus of St. Jacob’s Lutheran Church. He will be notified and invited to Homecoming on October 15.
Report of Ministry Teams:
• Music Ministry Report – Musical Monday Youth Handbell Camp tentatively scheduled for Monday mornings during the summer.
• Christian Education – Curriculum for VBS was approved by Council. Dates have not been con firmed.
• Safety – A trainer has been contacted for the Medical Emergency Training.
• Discipleship – 24 Mercy Bags of food was delivered to We Care. Lynn Shealy has been named to the board of We Care.
• Worship and Music – New green paraments and fair linen cloths have been received.
• Property Team – Plans for the parking lot renovations continue.
Old Business:
• The following vision points were discussed from the NALC Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit. Spiritual Awareness Outreach Visibility Care Connections
• Improvements to church property Congregation will vote by paper ballot on the recommended business office improvements on April 30.
New Business:
• Brief discussion on potential safety hazards caused by the old copings in the cemetery.

Good Things at St. Jacobs:
• Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
• Copeland Peeples Solo
• Lutheran Men Sausage Sale
Treasurer’s Report: Because of the volatile stock market, Council approved a Finance Committee recommendation to move the Sites Endowment Fund into a money market account for the short term. Council also approved moving the remaining funds in the Thrivent Account to a money market account.
Report of Ministry Teams:
• Safety Team is preparing medical emergency guidelines.
• Christian Education – Multi-Generational Sunday School Class has been discontinued.
• Property Team – A tankless water heater is being installed in the church office. A floor joist is also being repaired in the church office.
Old Business:
• Plans continue for the Fresh Eyes Mission Summit.
• Improvements to church property: Council discussed several items regarding improvements to church property. This includes improvements to the church office, Sanctuary, and parking lot. A plan to renovate the church office is complete. Plans for the Sanctuary and parking lot are continuing. Council voted to approve the plans for the church office. This plan will be presented to the congregation in the near future.
New Business:
• Council voted to add a monthly calendar to the newsletter.

Good things at St. Jacob’s
Sunday School attendance is up.
Worship attendance is up.
Ministry to Floriede Lindler was greatly appreciated.
Pastor’s Report Pastor
• David thanked the church elders for their leadership in worship service during his absence.
• Encouraged all men to attend the SCMD retreat in April.
• The Safety Team is working on the development of a Response Team for medical emergencies.
• The Discipleship Team encouraged the congregation to continue to donate to the Mercy Bucket Program.
• The Property Team reported that Chad Lindler will remain as Chairman and Gerald Lindler and Danny Shealy will serve as Co-Chairman.
• The NALC fresh eyes summit meeting will be March 10th, 11th, and 12th. Questionnaires will be mailed to all members for response in preparation for the meeting. All congregational members are encouraged to attend on Saturday, March 11th.
• Council is discussing a 3 phase plan to proceed with plans to improve church property. This plan will include the church facility, the office building facility, and the parking lot.

Council Briefs for January Meeting Good Things at St. Jacobs in December:
Good Food and Attendance at Christmas Dinner
Church was beautifully decorated for Advent and Christmas Season
• Worship and Music Team will purchase new paraments and/or altar cloths with contributions from holiday giving and memorial funds.
• Council agreed to move forward with Fresh Eyes for Summit meeting.
• Tommy Faulk elected as Vice Chairman and Brenda Smith will continue to serve as Secretary.
• Time and Talent Sheet responses are being compiled.
• Council agreed to discuss timing of Christmas Eve Service for next year, perhaps moving it to an earlier time.
• Council has agreed to pursue purchasing new pew cushions for the church. Before proceeding, Council will look into other property needs at the church and office building. A committee was assigned to address this. Any suggestions will be coordinated with Property Chairman as needed.

Good Things for November 2022

• The Up and Going Thanksgiving dinner and meeting.
• Abundance of good desserts provided for The Hub Thanksgiving meal.
• NALC health kit collection and assembly along with the Chili Cookoff meal
• Good participation to put up Chrismon trees and decorations.

Reports

• The Council received the Pastor’s report. The new Administrative Assistant, Jean started with SJLC on December 1, 2022. The Pastor will be away from the office Jan. 27-28 for the Congo Mission meeting in Rosenberg, TX, and also Jan. 29 – Feb 3 at the Clergy Convocation & Bishop’s Ministerium in San Antonio, TX. Elders will lead worship services on Feb. 3, 2023.
• Bob provided the treasurer’s report. The church has spent 79.97% of the 2022 budget. The Estate Gifts and Bus Sale accounts will remain open in 2023. The Council approved using the following funds for the purchase of green paraments and alter clothes: Amazon Smiles, Holiday Giving, Memorial Fund and Facility Rental donations.

All ministry team reports were received by the council. Notes of interest were as follows:

• Staff Support: The Administrative Assistant position has been filled by Jean effective December 1, 2022. The Youth and Family Minister position remains open. The Staff Support committee will recognize all staff at Christmas with gift cards.
• Christian Education: Sherrie McTeer will continue to teach both of the children’s classes through December 2022. There is a need for assistance beginning in January of 2023. There will be no Sunday School on Christmas Day.
• Congregational Care: Pound cake donations provided for The Hub Thanksgiving meals were very appreciated. There was enough donated to provide for 400 meals.
• Discipleship: There continues to be a need for food donations and/or funds to provide meals for We Care. The Up and Going collected and delivered more than 50 pounds of food to We Care in November.
• Property: no report
• Stewardship: The Audit team met on Nov. 14, 2022 to review the youth account and all records were accepted as presented. There was a request from the Finance Committee to move this account to general funds; however, the Council approved to keep the Youth Fund Account open so that funds will be available when needed.
• Worship and Music: The Sanctuary was decorated for Christmas.

Old Business:

• Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit: The Council approved moving forward with planning of the Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit and will discuss further in January.
• The Nursery Attendant position was tabled.
• Review of the Safe Sanctuary policy was tabled.

New Business

• Council discussed the time of the Christmas Eve Service and the possibility of having an earlier service; however, after a brief discussion, we will continue with the 7:00 p.m. service for Christmas Eve this year.
• There was discussion regarding leaving the offering plates at the back of the Sanctuary and discontinue the passing of the plates during Sunday morning service; however, after discussion, it was decided to continue to pass the plates.
• The Executive Committee will have a Mutual Ministry meeting with Pastor David on Thursday, December 15th at 3:00 p.m.

Good Things for October 2022

• The Up and Going trip to the Newberry Museum.
• Golden Ager’s Sunday (10/23/22) was a great success!
• Trunk or Treat Halloween party and lock-in

Council Briefs for November 2022

• The Council received the Pastor’s report. Pastor David is continuing to do the administrative duties in addition to his regular duties, as the search for an Administrative Assistant continues. The Pastor will be on vacation Nov. 14 – 19, 2022.
• Bob provided the treasurer’s report. The church has spent 74% of the 2022 budget. The Council has established an ‘Estate Gifts’ account. A decision to for appropriation/ distribution of these funds will be determined at a later date.
• All ministry team reports were received by the council. Notes of interest were as follows:
  • Staff Support: The Administrative Assistant position remains open. If you know of an interested candidate, please speak to a Council Member or Staff Support Committee member
  • Congregational Care: St. Jacobs will provide pound cakes for the Thanksgiving meal at The Hub. Volunteers will be needed following the Thanksgiving Eve ser[1]vice to assist in cutting and packaging the cakes.
  • Discipleship: Bags to replace Mercy boxes should arrive before Thanksgiving.
  • Property: The person who purchased the Church bus has reimbursed St. Jacob’s for the citations received prior to him re-tagging the bus.
  • Stewardship: The Audit team met on Oct. 21, 2022 to review the 3rd quarter records for the General Fund. All records were accepted as presented.
  • Worship and Music: New Chrismon trees and other decorations have been purchased for the Advent and Christmas season.

• Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit: A handout will be distributed to the congregation during the Congregational Meeting on December 4, 2022.
• The Administrative Assistant position remains open.
• The Council has approved the final budget proposal for 2023. This budget will go before the Congregation for final approval at the Congregational Meeting on Dec. 4, 2022. A handout will be available for members to pick up two weeks prior to the Congregational Meeting. These copies will be made available in the Narthex.
• The Council is seeking interested members to fill 5 vacated seats for the 2023/2024 term. Election for these seats will be held at the December Congregational meeting. Any members interested in filling a Council representative seat should notify one of the current Council members.
• A decision was made to delay further discussions regarding the purchase of a small bus.
• The Pastor shared a thank-you note from the AA group that meets at St. Jacobs, thanking the Church for the use of the building. Also, a note was received from Sherry Floyd for the gift from St. Jacobs in honor of her retirement.
• The Agenda for the Annual Congregation[1]al Meeting was set as follows:
  • Election of Council Members for 2023
  • Approval of 2023 Budget
  • Handout for Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit