Council News
Siloa Lutheran ChurchCongregational Council Meeting MinutesJuly 12, 2026
Present: Bob Anderson, Sharon Peterson, Sherry Campbell, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Pastor Kae Evensen, Colleen Rodriguez, Donna Whitney and Lynn Erickson.Absent: None
Pastor opened with a reading from Herbert F Brokering's book, "Luther's Prayers" about the first article of the Apostle's Creed. Chairman, Bob called the meeting to order at 11:58 am.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to approve the June 10, 2026 minutes with the typo "sour" to "four" under Pastor's report be corrected. Motion seconded by Colleen, no discussion, motion carried unanimously.Treasurer's Report (Donna):• Finances looking good at this point• Yard signs for National Night Out have been purchased and put out in the community. Bob will be reimbursed for their purchase ($240). The Thrivent gift card was not accepted at store these, so gift card will be used for other purchases necessary for the church.• Motion to approve the report as presented made by Sharon. Motion was seconded by Sherry, no discussion, motion carried unanimously.Pastor's Report (Pastor):• Used three vacation days in June. No sick or education days used.• Averaging 33.5 hours per weekChristian Discipleship (Sharon):• Two get well and two birthday cards have been sent since the last meeting• Seven attended the June retreat in stormy weather• June social club went to Isanti VFW and seven attended• July social club will go to Cambridge Bar and Grill on July 14• Lutheran Night with the Twins has now been opened up to the other local Lutheran Churches. • A barn quilt painting event will be held here on a Sunday in September. An example was shown. Cost is $120• Outdoor service will be held next Sunday, July 19. Sharon will bring the cross, song books, offering basket, salt, pepper, plates, cutlery, napkins, and bottled water to park. Bob will bring cooler with ice, tables, and trash can. Wendy Dawn will post signs on church doors about service being at Vegsund Park and bring inflatable serving bar. Laurel Johnson will work with Lora Christenson on the service music.• National Night Out is August 4. Looking for kitchen and outside helpers. Lee Ann Anderson and Lynn will purchase the groceries. Kay Dennis is getting the gift cards as prizes. Will need ice and coolers.• Committee roster has been given to Wendy Dawn as requested at last meetingStewardship (Wendy Dawn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to pay Siloa's portion of pastor's June mileage ($51.80) and expenses (19.57). Motion seconded by Sherry, no discussion, motion carried unanimously.• Donna reported that Salem is behind on reimbursing Siloa for shared expenses. In the past, they were paying these monthly but that stopped about a year ago. She will reach out to Salem's financial secretary, Kristy Johnson to see if this can be resolved• July's Shalom benevolence fund has paid out $6,803 in July and have a balance of $12,891Worship and Music (Colleen):• Met with Salem's committee and the musicians. Motion made to purchase the online version of "Sundays and Seasons" with cost (approximately $270) and usage to be shared between the two churches. This would be used by the pastor, secretaries, musicians and PowerPoint creators. Motion made by Colleen to purchase the online version of "Sundays and Seasons" with cost shared 50/50 with Salem. Motion seconded by Wendy Dawn. Discussion followed and motion carried unanimously.• Pastor has received feedback from some people that they don't see well to use hymnals. Motion made by Colleen and seconded by Sharon to purchase two copies of large print hymnals ($85 each). Discussion and motion carried unanimously• Motion made by Colleen to pay Laurel Johnson and Lora Westberg $50 each for providing music at the outdoor service and have check ready to give to them that day. Motion seconded by Wendy Dawn, no discussion, motion carried unanimously• Committee is talking about ways to provide more diversity in the music played during church servicesProperty (Sherry):• Three new handicap parking signs have been donated and will be put up• Ball field has been mowed and Pat Gerold will rake top grass and push to sides as Sherry has received several requests to use the ball field. Council members expressed concern about liability if people are using the field since it is church property.• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to purchase a restroom sign at less than twenty dollars to be place above door to bathroom hallway. Motion seconded by Colleen, no discussion, motion carried unanimously• There were no janitors signed up for July. Sherry will do one of the remaining weeks and Bob and Lee Ann will do another. There should not be a need this week since we worship at Vegsund Park next Sunday.• No contacts have been reached for once a month deep cleaning janitor. Wendy Dawn and Lynn have supplied suggested names; Sherry has not received their emails. They will be provided again• Air condition will be set at 72 degrees if no one is at church. It can be lowered when staff are in the building or an activity is being held here• Three bids have been received for repairing siding, pressure washing, painting exterior of church and painting sanctuary and ceilings: Lindstrom's Painting- $34,450 does not include painting interior ceilings or repairing siding Handt's Fine Finishing- $22,795 does not include repairing siding A Top Notch Painting- $22,400 Due to the amount of money, per our constitution this expense will have to be voted on by the congregation. Motion made by Wendy Dawn that we recommend to the congregation to proceed with this project using A Top Notch Painting and funds from the undesignated funds. Motion seconded by Sharon, discussion followed, motion carried unanimously.• Thanks goes to Bob for repairing some pews
OLD BUSINESS1. Committee structure lists and minutes need to go to Wendy Dawn2. Pastor questioned if we allow an active non-member to participate on a committee. Constitution has an associate membership that may apply
NEW BUSINESS1. Memorial committee is getting bids for new church sign(s) out front. Wendy Dawn showed some examples but committee has not made any final decisions2. Next meeting will be on August 9 after fellowship time
Sharon made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 1:09 pm and council closed with the Lord's Prayer.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Erickson, Congregational Council SecretaryJuly 12, 2026
Approved as written on August 9, 2026. LME
Present: Bob Anderson, Sharon Peterson, Sherry Campbell, Wendy Dawn Bengtson, Pastor Kae Evensen, Colleen Rodriguez, Donna Whitney and Lynn Erickson.Absent: None
Pastor opened with a reading from Herbert F Brokering's book, "Luther's Prayers" about the first article of the Apostle's Creed. Chairman, Bob called the meeting to order at 11:58 am.
Secretary's Report (Lynn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to approve the June 10, 2026 minutes with the typo "sour" to "four" under Pastor's report be corrected. Motion seconded by Colleen, no discussion, motion carried unanimously.Treasurer's Report (Donna):• Finances looking good at this point• Yard signs for National Night Out have been purchased and put out in the community. Bob will be reimbursed for their purchase ($240). The Thrivent gift card was not accepted at store these, so gift card will be used for other purchases necessary for the church.• Motion to approve the report as presented made by Sharon. Motion was seconded by Sherry, no discussion, motion carried unanimously.Pastor's Report (Pastor):• Used three vacation days in June. No sick or education days used.• Averaging 33.5 hours per weekChristian Discipleship (Sharon):• Two get well and two birthday cards have been sent since the last meeting• Seven attended the June retreat in stormy weather• June social club went to Isanti VFW and seven attended• July social club will go to Cambridge Bar and Grill on July 14• Lutheran Night with the Twins has now been opened up to the other local Lutheran Churches. • A barn quilt painting event will be held here on a Sunday in September. An example was shown. Cost is $120• Outdoor service will be held next Sunday, July 19. Sharon will bring the cross, song books, offering basket, salt, pepper, plates, cutlery, napkins, and bottled water to park. Bob will bring cooler with ice, tables, and trash can. Wendy Dawn will post signs on church doors about service being at Vegsund Park and bring inflatable serving bar. Laurel Johnson will work with Lora Christenson on the service music.• National Night Out is August 4. Looking for kitchen and outside helpers. Lee Ann Anderson and Lynn will purchase the groceries. Kay Dennis is getting the gift cards as prizes. Will need ice and coolers.• Committee roster has been given to Wendy Dawn as requested at last meetingStewardship (Wendy Dawn):• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to pay Siloa's portion of pastor's June mileage ($51.80) and expenses (19.57). Motion seconded by Sherry, no discussion, motion carried unanimously.• Donna reported that Salem is behind on reimbursing Siloa for shared expenses. In the past, they were paying these monthly but that stopped about a year ago. She will reach out to Salem's financial secretary, Kristy Johnson to see if this can be resolved• July's Shalom benevolence fund has paid out $6,803 in July and have a balance of $12,891Worship and Music (Colleen):• Met with Salem's committee and the musicians. Motion made to purchase the online version of "Sundays and Seasons" with cost (approximately $270) and usage to be shared between the two churches. This would be used by the pastor, secretaries, musicians and PowerPoint creators. Motion made by Colleen to purchase the online version of "Sundays and Seasons" with cost shared 50/50 with Salem. Motion seconded by Wendy Dawn. Discussion followed and motion carried unanimously.• Pastor has received feedback from some people that they don't see well to use hymnals. Motion made by Colleen and seconded by Sharon to purchase two copies of large print hymnals ($85 each). Discussion and motion carried unanimously• Motion made by Colleen to pay Laurel Johnson and Lora Westberg $50 each for providing music at the outdoor service and have check ready to give to them that day. Motion seconded by Wendy Dawn, no discussion, motion carried unanimously• Committee is talking about ways to provide more diversity in the music played during church servicesProperty (Sherry):• Three new handicap parking signs have been donated and will be put up• Ball field has been mowed and Pat Gerold will rake top grass and push to sides as Sherry has received several requests to use the ball field. Council members expressed concern about liability if people are using the field since it is church property.• Motion made by Wendy Dawn to purchase a restroom sign at less than twenty dollars to be place above door to bathroom hallway. Motion seconded by Colleen, no discussion, motion carried unanimously• There were no janitors signed up for July. Sherry will do one of the remaining weeks and Bob and Lee Ann will do another. There should not be a need this week since we worship at Vegsund Park next Sunday.• No contacts have been reached for once a month deep cleaning janitor. Wendy Dawn and Lynn have supplied suggested names; Sherry has not received their emails. They will be provided again• Air condition will be set at 72 degrees if no one is at church. It can be lowered when staff are in the building or an activity is being held here• Three bids have been received for repairing siding, pressure washing, painting exterior of church and painting sanctuary and ceilings: Lindstrom's Painting- $34,450 does not include painting interior ceilings or repairing siding Handt's Fine Finishing- $22,795 does not include repairing siding A Top Notch Painting- $22,400 Due to the amount of money, per our constitution this expense will have to be voted on by the congregation. Motion made by Wendy Dawn that we recommend to the congregation to proceed with this project using A Top Notch Painting and funds from the undesignated funds. Motion seconded by Sharon, discussion followed, motion carried unanimously.• Thanks goes to Bob for repairing some pews
OLD BUSINESS1. Committee structure lists and minutes need to go to Wendy Dawn2. Pastor questioned if we allow an active non-member to participate on a committee. Constitution has an associate membership that may apply
NEW BUSINESS1. Memorial committee is getting bids for new church sign(s) out front. Wendy Dawn showed some examples but committee has not made any final decisions2. Next meeting will be on August 9 after fellowship time
Sharon made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 1:09 pm and council closed with the Lord's Prayer.
Unapproved minutes, respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Erickson, Congregational Council SecretaryJuly 12, 2026
Approved as written on August 9, 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)