Council News
Siloa Lutheran ChurchCongregational Council Meeting MinutesMarch 11, 2026
Present: Pastor Kae Evensen, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Sharon Peterson, Bob Anderson and Lynn EricksonAbsent: Donna Whitney, Colleen Rodriguez and Sherry Campbell
Pastor opened with prayer and Chairman Bob called the meeting to order at 10:08 am.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made to accept the February 11, 2026 minutes as printed was made by Wendy Dawn. Motion seconded by Sharon, no discussion, motion carried unanimously. Treasurer's Report (Donna-absent but written report presented)• Wendy Dawn will have Donna change "401K" to "403B"• Motion made by Sharon and seconded by Lynn to accept the report as presented. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Pastor's Report (Pastor):• Besides church services, last week's activities included attending the women's and men's breakfasts, four home visits, calls to check on folks, dining at The Brass Rail with Siloa Social group and sent out emails to set date for First Communion.• Ordered business cards, new alb, and two clergy shirts. Will turn in receipts.• Will be away April 23-26 and at a continuing education event on May 16-18. Will contact Pastor Sue Olson from Long Lake Lutheran Church to see if she would take emergency calls during these times. Will look into getting pulpit supply.• In future, wondering a time that would be preferred to be gone a few days during the week to visit out of state mother. Council members felt last two weeks of each month are usually less busy and would be best.• Questioned moving expenses and vacation time. Motion made that pastor earn three weeks vacation to use and the money from budgeted fourth week of vacation will be used for moving expenses was made by Wendy Dawn and seconded by Sharon. Discussion followed and motion carried unanimously.• Schedule will be off on Mondays, at Siloa on Tuesdays, at Salem on Wednesdays and continue worship planning, emails, visits, calls, etc on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.• No vacation or continuing education or sick days used to date Christian Discipleship (Sharon):• One birthday card sent since last meeting• February craft retreat was Friday only with seven attending. Next one is March 20 and 21• Siloa Social group met at The Brass Rail on March 10. Next one will be on April 14 at The Pub and Grub in Bradford at 4 pm• Soup donations will be counted and taken to Braham Area Food Shelf on March 19. Sharon will check with Terri Gerold as to the amount of money donated so Donna can write a check to go along with the soup donation.• March is our month to volunteer at the food shelf Stewardship (Wendy Dawn):• Pastor would like it noted in minutes that $27,000 of pay go towards base salary and $40,000 goes towards housing allowance.• Wendy Dawn has purchased Adobe Acrobat Pro for the church office using non-profit TECH SOUP organization. The annual cost will be $15 compared to $300 otherwise.• Siloa received $140.00 from Thrivent Choice Dollars. Lynn will send thank you cards to the two people that directed dollars to Siloa. Worship and Music (Colleen-absent)• Palms have been ordered for Palm Sunday• Lora Westberg sang at the beginning of service and during offering on March 1. Lynn will send thank you note.• No Easter flower orders have been turned in and no one has informed Wendy Dawn that they will be purchasing and bringing a flower. Orders at Braham Floral are due Mach 15.• Maundy Thursday service is at Salem at 7 pm• Good Friday service is at Siloa at 7 pm• Easter service is at Siloa at 7 am.• WELCA will serve a fund raising brunch on Palm Sunday (March 29th) from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm• Bob and Wendy Dawn will serve refreshments after Easter Sunday service for fellowship time Property (Sherry-absent):• Bob met with the insurance rep/adjuster and did a walk through of the church. No issues were pointed out at walk through.• Waiting to hear estimates on cost of having someone come in monthly to do a "deep clean" of church• Wendy Dawn reported that the mailbox is hard to open and the handle needs to be straightening
OLD BUSINESS• Pastor has been doing home visits. Some members had volunteered to be on a home visitation team. Pastor will work with the interested people. Wendy Dawn has the brochures ready to use during visits or for visitors• West entry door seems to be working better now• Wendy Dawn is still working on getting the second wireless phone connected• Membership list update is tabled until next month• The MN dept of labor form has some questions about vacation accrual timeline. Vacation is pro-rated and is "use it or lose it" • Synod delegate needed for conference on May 1 and 2. Sharon volunteered to attend on May 2 with Pastor
NEW BUSINESS• May 10th will be Pastor's installation with Bishop Jen Nagel in attendance. Pie will be served as refreshments-perhaps prior to service• Bobbin Feeders would like to have quilts blessed on May 10th also• Next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 10 am• Sharon made motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:58 am.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M EricksonCongregational Council SecretaryMarch 11, 2026
Approved as written April 8, 2026 LME
Present: Pastor Kae Evensen, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Sharon Peterson, Bob Anderson and Lynn EricksonAbsent: Donna Whitney, Colleen Rodriguez and Sherry Campbell
Pastor opened with prayer and Chairman Bob called the meeting to order at 10:08 am.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made to accept the February 11, 2026 minutes as printed was made by Wendy Dawn. Motion seconded by Sharon, no discussion, motion carried unanimously. Treasurer's Report (Donna-absent but written report presented)• Wendy Dawn will have Donna change "401K" to "403B"• Motion made by Sharon and seconded by Lynn to accept the report as presented. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Pastor's Report (Pastor):• Besides church services, last week's activities included attending the women's and men's breakfasts, four home visits, calls to check on folks, dining at The Brass Rail with Siloa Social group and sent out emails to set date for First Communion.• Ordered business cards, new alb, and two clergy shirts. Will turn in receipts.• Will be away April 23-26 and at a continuing education event on May 16-18. Will contact Pastor Sue Olson from Long Lake Lutheran Church to see if she would take emergency calls during these times. Will look into getting pulpit supply.• In future, wondering a time that would be preferred to be gone a few days during the week to visit out of state mother. Council members felt last two weeks of each month are usually less busy and would be best.• Questioned moving expenses and vacation time. Motion made that pastor earn three weeks vacation to use and the money from budgeted fourth week of vacation will be used for moving expenses was made by Wendy Dawn and seconded by Sharon. Discussion followed and motion carried unanimously.• Schedule will be off on Mondays, at Siloa on Tuesdays, at Salem on Wednesdays and continue worship planning, emails, visits, calls, etc on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.• No vacation or continuing education or sick days used to date Christian Discipleship (Sharon):• One birthday card sent since last meeting• February craft retreat was Friday only with seven attending. Next one is March 20 and 21• Siloa Social group met at The Brass Rail on March 10. Next one will be on April 14 at The Pub and Grub in Bradford at 4 pm• Soup donations will be counted and taken to Braham Area Food Shelf on March 19. Sharon will check with Terri Gerold as to the amount of money donated so Donna can write a check to go along with the soup donation.• March is our month to volunteer at the food shelf Stewardship (Wendy Dawn):• Pastor would like it noted in minutes that $27,000 of pay go towards base salary and $40,000 goes towards housing allowance.• Wendy Dawn has purchased Adobe Acrobat Pro for the church office using non-profit TECH SOUP organization. The annual cost will be $15 compared to $300 otherwise.• Siloa received $140.00 from Thrivent Choice Dollars. Lynn will send thank you cards to the two people that directed dollars to Siloa. Worship and Music (Colleen-absent)• Palms have been ordered for Palm Sunday• Lora Westberg sang at the beginning of service and during offering on March 1. Lynn will send thank you note.• No Easter flower orders have been turned in and no one has informed Wendy Dawn that they will be purchasing and bringing a flower. Orders at Braham Floral are due Mach 15.• Maundy Thursday service is at Salem at 7 pm• Good Friday service is at Siloa at 7 pm• Easter service is at Siloa at 7 am.• WELCA will serve a fund raising brunch on Palm Sunday (March 29th) from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm• Bob and Wendy Dawn will serve refreshments after Easter Sunday service for fellowship time Property (Sherry-absent):• Bob met with the insurance rep/adjuster and did a walk through of the church. No issues were pointed out at walk through.• Waiting to hear estimates on cost of having someone come in monthly to do a "deep clean" of church• Wendy Dawn reported that the mailbox is hard to open and the handle needs to be straightening
OLD BUSINESS• Pastor has been doing home visits. Some members had volunteered to be on a home visitation team. Pastor will work with the interested people. Wendy Dawn has the brochures ready to use during visits or for visitors• West entry door seems to be working better now• Wendy Dawn is still working on getting the second wireless phone connected• Membership list update is tabled until next month• The MN dept of labor form has some questions about vacation accrual timeline. Vacation is pro-rated and is "use it or lose it" • Synod delegate needed for conference on May 1 and 2. Sharon volunteered to attend on May 2 with Pastor
NEW BUSINESS• May 10th will be Pastor's installation with Bishop Jen Nagel in attendance. Pie will be served as refreshments-perhaps prior to service• Bobbin Feeders would like to have quilts blessed on May 10th also• Next meeting will be held Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 10 am• Sharon made motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:58 am.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M EricksonCongregational Council SecretaryMarch 11, 2026
Approved as written April 8, 2026 LME
2025-2026 COUNCIL MEMBERS
Sherry Campbell (Property), Lynn Erickson (Secretary). Colleen Rodriguez (Worship and Music), Bob Anderson (Chairman), Wendy Dawn Bengtson (Stewardship) and Sharon Peterson (Christian Discipleship)