Congregational Life Ministry Team

Last meeting: Aug. 12, 2008

Attendees:

Ellen Evensen

Elizabeth Hensel
Emilie Larson

Deni Lundwall

Dong Pham

Staff:

Karen Herbrich

Jean Monson

Items that may require budget/finance coordination: None

Important items of information:

• CPR classes will resume in the fall (possibly October). FELC pays for the cost of these classes. Red Cross has a one-year program (slightly cheaper); Gold Cross has a more extensive two-year program. FELC is looking to do Gold Cross this year.

• LIFT meals and learning will start again this fall (Sept. 10 – first meal, class and worship). This fall will include baptismal class, prayer partner class, faithfully fit (probably January) and confirmation (start date of Sept. 3).

• North Side worship’s 10^th anniversary is Wed., Aug 13 – open house, worship, reception (evening begins 5:30). Mary Hujet has worked on the interview video to condense 4 hours of tape into 29 minutes, and added pictures from Jan Sommerfeld. Jean Monson will condense further to be ready for Wed.

• Olan Mills directory, estimated 37 percent participation (scheduled). Spiritual Gifts Inventory has been introduced at the photo sessions. There will be a fall promotion (maybe in a LIFT class) of getting involved per your spiritual gifts, instead of a volunteer fair. Members of Congregational Life will do inventory (available at felc.com Web site) before September meeting.

• 50+ group is going strong. More than 60 individuals signed up to attend Thursday (Aug. 14) barbeque. Having activities every month seems to be drawing more people to get involved. The May bus trip was filled and the September bus trip is almost filled. Some 2009 events are being planned, with a couple of new individuals in the planning committee (though, they could use more!). There are different door prizes at each event, with different “games” to earn prizes.

• New Parent Ministry will be starting an expected parent prayer chain for pregnant and adopting families. This would involve prayer partners (hoping to get young families recently experiencing parenthood), who would call family in time of need and also at birth (bathe parents in prayer). Karen wants to do pregnancy visits to share spiritual resources, rather than pack of pamphlets that won’t be read in time to be useful.

• December parents’ shopping/date night, maybe 2-9 p.m. (adult supervising volunteers needed in shifts). Need task force to work with Mo to get confirmation groups to help out with babysitting and entertaining kids during this time. Jean Monson will add a note to the newsletter about needing help with this event, will check calendar for possible late November, early December date.

• Toddlin’ to Jesus involves expectant parents to Sunday school-age kids, for parents and toddlers – snack for kids, parents visit, kids play. After interaction, Bible story for kids and parents; after story, kids play and parents have own study (video, conversation) on parenting/parenting skills. Anita Damon is looking into a pilot program at the North Site. The end result is parents are bonded and then become leaders in the church.

• Prayer shawls – group likes to knit on their own, but needs to meet a few times a year, can offer lessons if people sign up ahead of time. Prayer ministry will be focusing on groups in October; Prayer 101 will be discussed in September for possible Advent time again. We need a point person for prayer volunteer, prayer volunteer leader, possibly ask Bible study leaders to reach out to their groups, Lay school, Bethel Study individuals? – Jean putting a note in the newsletter.

Submitted by:

Emilie Larson