Council News
Siloa Lutheran ChurchCongregational Council Meeting MinutesDecember 10, 2025
Present: Bob Anderson, Colleen Rodriguez, Sharon Peterson, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Pastor Freeberg, Mark Hansen and Lynn Erickson.Absent: Donna Whitney
Pastor opened with prayer and Chairman Bob called the meeting to order at 1:04 pm.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to approve the November 4 joint executive committee meeting minutes and the November 12 regular congregational council meeting minutes as printed. Motion seconded by Sharon, no discussion, motion carried unanimously. Treasurer's Report (Donna-absent)• No report available for review• Bob reported that Deloris Anderson gave a generous donation to be used wherever needed. Terri Gerold will send thank you card. Pastor's Report (Pastor):• Pastoral acts from Nov. 11-Dec. 10 included preaching and presiding 8 times, led two confirmation sessions and held one pastoral care session.• Transition report included meeting with Bishop Jen, call committee met with Pastor John Hulden and they have also received three names of candidates to consider for a call.• No mileage to report.
Christian Discipleship (Sharon):• Since last meeting, five birthday cards and one sympathy card have been mailed.• November craft retreat was Friday only and ten attended with five getting massages.• Social gathering at The Park Tavern on December 2 was enjoyed by eight members.• Cheer bag items are all set and bags will be assembled on Sunday, December 14.• Christmas cards/magnetic calendars have been delayed. They are still in production. Wendy Dawn has the labels ready for mailing. Stewardship (Wendy Dawn);• Looked at four options for purchasing CDs with some of the money in the checking account. Motion made to purchase two 5 month $25,000 CDs (interest 3.8%) was made by Wendy Dawn. Motion seconded by Colleen. Discussion followed and motion carried unanimously.• $148 was received from members donating to church through Thrivent Choice Funds. Will put a notice in bulletin or newsletter to let other Thrivent members knows about this program.• Presented first draft of 2026 proposed budget. Reviewed it line by line. Salem has their meeting soon and will be looking at their budget. We will need to work together with regards to pastoral salary/benefits. Property (Mark):• Fred Swanson is doing the snow plowing again this year. Will keep track of the number of times he has to plow this season.• It was discussed in the May 2025 council meeting that we would like to purchase a new computer and printer for our secretary and treasurer to use. At that time, there was little interest in changing computers/program mid-year. Terri Gerold now would like to revisit this purchase and start 2026 with the new one. Motion made by Mark to purchase a new computer, necessary software and a printer for treasurer. Motion seconded by Wendy Dawn. Discussion followed and council would like to have Terri do research on what computer and software would be best for her. Motion carried unanimously.• The PowerPoint team is also struggling with that laptop computer functioning correctly. Motion made by Colleen to have the PowerPoint team research what they need and purchase a laptop. Motion seconded by Sharon, no discussion and motion carried unanimously.Worship and Music (Colleen):• Pianists are lined up through end of January. Will also reach out to Laura LORA Westberg about singing on Christmas Eve as no youth want to play this year.• Thank you to Wendy Dawn for updating the activity bags• Sharon Erickson and Coleen COLLEEN met with Pastor with regards to Christmas music through the end of the year.
OLD BUSINESS:• Brochures for home visitation team to use are ready to be printed. We will only print 20 at this time since service time will change June 1.• No update on west entry keyless pad• No update on second wireless phone• Bob volunteered for the memorial committee at the November meeting.NEW BUSINESS:• Resignation letter received from June Bengtson, church secretary. Motion made by Sharon to accept resignation as of today. Motion seconded by Colleen. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Wendy Dawn agrees to help until end of year and position will be posted.• All reports are due to the church office by January 11, 2026 for the annual report. • Annual meeting is January 25, 2026• Next council meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14 at 1 pm/• Mark made motion to adjourn, meeting was adjourned at 2:09 pm.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. EricksonCongregational Council SecretaryDec 10, 2025
Approved after two spelling errors corrected in the Worship and Music section on January 14, 2026. LME
Present: Bob Anderson, Colleen Rodriguez, Sharon Peterson, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Pastor Freeberg, Mark Hansen and Lynn Erickson.Absent: Donna Whitney
Pastor opened with prayer and Chairman Bob called the meeting to order at 1:04 pm.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to approve the November 4 joint executive committee meeting minutes and the November 12 regular congregational council meeting minutes as printed. Motion seconded by Sharon, no discussion, motion carried unanimously. Treasurer's Report (Donna-absent)• No report available for review• Bob reported that Deloris Anderson gave a generous donation to be used wherever needed. Terri Gerold will send thank you card. Pastor's Report (Pastor):• Pastoral acts from Nov. 11-Dec. 10 included preaching and presiding 8 times, led two confirmation sessions and held one pastoral care session.• Transition report included meeting with Bishop Jen, call committee met with Pastor John Hulden and they have also received three names of candidates to consider for a call.• No mileage to report.
Christian Discipleship (Sharon):• Since last meeting, five birthday cards and one sympathy card have been mailed.• November craft retreat was Friday only and ten attended with five getting massages.• Social gathering at The Park Tavern on December 2 was enjoyed by eight members.• Cheer bag items are all set and bags will be assembled on Sunday, December 14.• Christmas cards/magnetic calendars have been delayed. They are still in production. Wendy Dawn has the labels ready for mailing. Stewardship (Wendy Dawn);• Looked at four options for purchasing CDs with some of the money in the checking account. Motion made to purchase two 5 month $25,000 CDs (interest 3.8%) was made by Wendy Dawn. Motion seconded by Colleen. Discussion followed and motion carried unanimously.• $148 was received from members donating to church through Thrivent Choice Funds. Will put a notice in bulletin or newsletter to let other Thrivent members knows about this program.• Presented first draft of 2026 proposed budget. Reviewed it line by line. Salem has their meeting soon and will be looking at their budget. We will need to work together with regards to pastoral salary/benefits. Property (Mark):• Fred Swanson is doing the snow plowing again this year. Will keep track of the number of times he has to plow this season.• It was discussed in the May 2025 council meeting that we would like to purchase a new computer and printer for our secretary and treasurer to use. At that time, there was little interest in changing computers/program mid-year. Terri Gerold now would like to revisit this purchase and start 2026 with the new one. Motion made by Mark to purchase a new computer, necessary software and a printer for treasurer. Motion seconded by Wendy Dawn. Discussion followed and council would like to have Terri do research on what computer and software would be best for her. Motion carried unanimously.• The PowerPoint team is also struggling with that laptop computer functioning correctly. Motion made by Colleen to have the PowerPoint team research what they need and purchase a laptop. Motion seconded by Sharon, no discussion and motion carried unanimously.Worship and Music (Colleen):• Pianists are lined up through end of January. Will also reach out to Laura LORA Westberg about singing on Christmas Eve as no youth want to play this year.• Thank you to Wendy Dawn for updating the activity bags• Sharon Erickson and Coleen COLLEEN met with Pastor with regards to Christmas music through the end of the year.
OLD BUSINESS:• Brochures for home visitation team to use are ready to be printed. We will only print 20 at this time since service time will change June 1.• No update on west entry keyless pad• No update on second wireless phone• Bob volunteered for the memorial committee at the November meeting.NEW BUSINESS:• Resignation letter received from June Bengtson, church secretary. Motion made by Sharon to accept resignation as of today. Motion seconded by Colleen. No discussion, motion carried unanimously. Wendy Dawn agrees to help until end of year and position will be posted.• All reports are due to the church office by January 11, 2026 for the annual report. • Annual meeting is January 25, 2026• Next council meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 14 at 1 pm/• Mark made motion to adjourn, meeting was adjourned at 2:09 pm.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. EricksonCongregational Council SecretaryDec 10, 2025
Approved after two spelling errors corrected in the Worship and Music section on January 14, 2026. 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)