Council News
Siloa Lutheran ChurchCongregational Council Meeting MinutesMay 11. 2025
Present: Bob Anderson, Mark Hansen, Sharon Peterson, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Donna Whitney, Pastor Susan Masters, Colleen Rodriguez, and Lynn Erickson.Absent: None
Pastor opened with thanks and blessings as we move forward in the interim/call process and prayer. Chairman Bob called the meeting to order at 11:57 am.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to accept the April 13, 2025 minutes as printed. Motion seconded by Mark. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Treasurer's Report (Donna):• No financial surprises, everything looking good.• ECE fiber should be installed soon. Pastor's Report (Pastor): Reporting period is April 8 to May 18• Saddened that this will be final council report but grateful for everyone's kind understanding that my health comes first. Thank you; it has been an honor and blessing to serve as transition pastor.• Word and sacrament acts completed include preaching and presiding at ten services, attending two monthly synod meetings for interim pastors, attending five weekly text studies with clergy colleagues, attending Synod Assembly, presided over one first communion, two rites of confirmation and there will be two baptisms on May 18.• Transition tasks have included presenting three transition reports and formed MSP writing team. Call committee is still off in the future-may be ready by late summer or early fall.• Total unused vacation days: 8-would like these to be paid out upon completion of call• Mileage was up (196 miles ministry related) due to Holy Week.• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to pay Siloa's portion of mileage ($34.30). Motion seconded by Sharon. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Worship and Music (Colleen):• Confirmation went well• Altar Guild will start putting information about significance of liturgical colors used during the church year in the newsletter as informational and refreshing our memory.• Church anniversary (134 years) is May 26. It will be acknowledge in the bulletin.• Questions from committee-do we pay John Olson for taking photos at confirmation. Bob stated that John donated his time. Lynn will send him a thank you card. Do we pay the singers from Easter? In the future, we would like to see musical performances go through the committee first. Wendy Dawn will call to see if singers were expecting payment. Committee will meet and develop a policy in regards to this. Property (Mark):• No bill was ever received from the snowplower. Bob will check with Salem to see what they did. Wendy Dawn thought they gave him a gift card.• Need help with planting and caring for flowers in church area outside.• Bob has contacted the representative from Gaytee-Palmer stained glass company and they expect to start our project in a week or so. • Need to think about what we can do to camouflage the well pipe out front. Christian Discipleship (Sharon):• From March to present day, 8 birthday, one thinking of you and two sympathy cards have been sent.• May craft retreat will only be held on Friday, May 16.• Do we want to host National Night Out again this year? If so, the committee will look at options for food. Wendy Dawn will check on registering our event. There is money in the Thrivent for church projects that could be used for this event.• A sign up sheet will go up for visitation team members. So far, only two people have expressed interest. Pastor Jerold Freeberg will work with us on this.Stewardship (Wendy Dawn):• Our pledge for donating to the Synod for February 2024-January 2025 was $1,000. We met that pledge.
Old business: None
New business:• Joint councils are meeting with Pastor Jerold Freeberg tomorrow night at Salem.• Council expressed interest in looking at pros and cons of moving out of Minneapolis Area Synod district into the Northern district which we feel we are a better match. No action taken or person volunteered to spearhead this.• Highway cleanup -do we want to continue doing this as "Siloa Youth"? No action taken; this has been done about once a year in recent years.• Sharon would like to have us start thinking about church start time-thirty minutes earlier would allow more time for the pastor to visit with us prior to leaving to Salem for second service. No action taken.• Council meetings will have to change to a different time since our service will be first starting June 1. We will need to discuss this with Pastor Freeberg.• Lynn would like to look in to purchasing a new computer and perhaps printer for Terri Gerold, June Bengtson, and the pastor to use since we have funds in the memorial funds that were going to be used for the stained glass window project. Lynn will work with Terri to get some estimates.• Wendy Dawn expressed concern about the cancellation of the Memorial Day service and breakfast due to lack of support. Only two people showed up for clean up day.• Next meeting date and time will be determined.• Mark made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 1:02 pm.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M EricksonLynn M. Erickson, Congregational Secretary
Approved as written on June 18, 2025 LME
Present: Bob Anderson, Mark Hansen, Sharon Peterson, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Donna Whitney, Pastor Susan Masters, Colleen Rodriguez, and Lynn Erickson.Absent: None
Pastor opened with thanks and blessings as we move forward in the interim/call process and prayer. Chairman Bob called the meeting to order at 11:57 am.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to accept the April 13, 2025 minutes as printed. Motion seconded by Mark. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Treasurer's Report (Donna):• No financial surprises, everything looking good.• ECE fiber should be installed soon. Pastor's Report (Pastor): Reporting period is April 8 to May 18• Saddened that this will be final council report but grateful for everyone's kind understanding that my health comes first. Thank you; it has been an honor and blessing to serve as transition pastor.• Word and sacrament acts completed include preaching and presiding at ten services, attending two monthly synod meetings for interim pastors, attending five weekly text studies with clergy colleagues, attending Synod Assembly, presided over one first communion, two rites of confirmation and there will be two baptisms on May 18.• Transition tasks have included presenting three transition reports and formed MSP writing team. Call committee is still off in the future-may be ready by late summer or early fall.• Total unused vacation days: 8-would like these to be paid out upon completion of call• Mileage was up (196 miles ministry related) due to Holy Week.• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to pay Siloa's portion of mileage ($34.30). Motion seconded by Sharon. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Worship and Music (Colleen):• Confirmation went well• Altar Guild will start putting information about significance of liturgical colors used during the church year in the newsletter as informational and refreshing our memory.• Church anniversary (134 years) is May 26. It will be acknowledge in the bulletin.• Questions from committee-do we pay John Olson for taking photos at confirmation. Bob stated that John donated his time. Lynn will send him a thank you card. Do we pay the singers from Easter? In the future, we would like to see musical performances go through the committee first. Wendy Dawn will call to see if singers were expecting payment. Committee will meet and develop a policy in regards to this. Property (Mark):• No bill was ever received from the snowplower. Bob will check with Salem to see what they did. Wendy Dawn thought they gave him a gift card.• Need help with planting and caring for flowers in church area outside.• Bob has contacted the representative from Gaytee-Palmer stained glass company and they expect to start our project in a week or so. • Need to think about what we can do to camouflage the well pipe out front. Christian Discipleship (Sharon):• From March to present day, 8 birthday, one thinking of you and two sympathy cards have been sent.• May craft retreat will only be held on Friday, May 16.• Do we want to host National Night Out again this year? If so, the committee will look at options for food. Wendy Dawn will check on registering our event. There is money in the Thrivent for church projects that could be used for this event.• A sign up sheet will go up for visitation team members. So far, only two people have expressed interest. Pastor Jerold Freeberg will work with us on this.Stewardship (Wendy Dawn):• Our pledge for donating to the Synod for February 2024-January 2025 was $1,000. We met that pledge.
Old business: None
New business:• Joint councils are meeting with Pastor Jerold Freeberg tomorrow night at Salem.• Council expressed interest in looking at pros and cons of moving out of Minneapolis Area Synod district into the Northern district which we feel we are a better match. No action taken or person volunteered to spearhead this.• Highway cleanup -do we want to continue doing this as "Siloa Youth"? No action taken; this has been done about once a year in recent years.• Sharon would like to have us start thinking about church start time-thirty minutes earlier would allow more time for the pastor to visit with us prior to leaving to Salem for second service. No action taken.• Council meetings will have to change to a different time since our service will be first starting June 1. We will need to discuss this with Pastor Freeberg.• Lynn would like to look in to purchasing a new computer and perhaps printer for Terri Gerold, June Bengtson, and the pastor to use since we have funds in the memorial funds that were going to be used for the stained glass window project. Lynn will work with Terri to get some estimates.• Wendy Dawn expressed concern about the cancellation of the Memorial Day service and breakfast due to lack of support. Only two people showed up for clean up day.• Next meeting date and time will be determined.• Mark made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 1:02 pm.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M EricksonLynn M. Erickson, Congregational Secretary
Approved as written on June 18, 2025 LME
2025-2026 COUNCIL MEMBERS
Colleen Rodriguez (Worship and Music), Lynn Erickson (Secretary), Wendy Dawn Bengtson (Stewardship and Vice Chair), Bob Anderson (Chairman), Sharon Peterson (Christian Discipleship), and Mark Hansen (Property)