First Trinity Lutheran Church
First Trinity Lutheran Church Council Meeting Minutes - August 13th, 2024
Meeting was called to order by Church President Russell Behrends. Pastor Wagner gave an opening devotion from Luke chapter 18. Minutes of the July council meeting were approved as presented.
Ron Malchow presented the Financial Secretary’s report. The Treasurer’s report was presented by Kyle Spilker. Income for July was $7,011.33, expenses $14,800.72. With an ending balance of $44,488.00. Motion was made to accept financial reports by Dean Damme. Second by David Faulder. Motion carried. (see reports)
Elders’ Report – Dean Damme
· Next month’s meeting will be on September 10th with elder’s meeting at 7:30 pm and council at 8:30 pm.
· Pastor Wagner will leave for vacation the afternoon of September 8th. Pastor Schauer will be the substitute pastor on September 15th.
Pastor’s Report – Pastor Wagner
· All Professional Church Workers conference October 17th & 18th in Kearney.
Trustee’s Report - Jim Nelson
· Updated the insurance policy with the change in copiers.
· The Board of Trustees has opted to not lock in propane for this winter.
· Still waiting for the contractor to start on the steeple repair and painting.
Stewardship / Board of Education – John Niemeier
· Will have two elementary students attending St. Paul’s Plymouth.
· Karen Pfingsten has volunteered to teach the younger mid-week class.
Cemetery Sexton – David Faulder
· A placard sign with cemetery rules has been placed on the east side of the cement parking slab on the north side of the cemetery.
· David has moved money into a new certificate of deposit for 18 months with a rate of 5%.
· David is thinking about getting quotes for repainting the cemetery entrance arch. Discussion was held that this would be the time to widen the arch with moving the posts or possibly moving it over to be by the parking slab. It was mentioned if going to do this, it should be done before the 150th Anniversary.
· Will be looking into a new light to illuminate the American flag, as the current one is not very bright if it is even working all.
Old Business · none.
New Business · none.
Motion was made by Pastor Timothy Wagner to adjourn, second by Dean Damme. Motion carried. Meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Members present included David Faulder, Kyle Spilker, Pastor Timothy Wagner, John Niemeier, Ron Malchow, Russell Behrends, Jim Nelson, and Dean Damme. Submitted by Elder Dean Damme.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIRST TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH - Second Quarter 2024 Voters' Meeting - July 21, 2024.
The meeting was called to order by President Russell Behrends at 10:47 a.m. Pastor Wagner gave a devotion with a reading from Ephesians Chapter 1. The minutes of the January 21, 2024 meeting were approved as presented.
Mr. Ron Malchow presented the Second Quarter Financial Secretary Report. General income for the General Funds was $25,823.09 with total income at $26,624.70. The Savings balance was $83,614.18 as of 6/30/2024. (Attached) Totals for 2014 were General Fund $41,690.09 and Total Income was $73,313.95,
The Treasurer Report was presented by Kyle Spilker. His report showed a balance as of 6/30/24 of $46,809.40. Second Quarter expenses totaled $35,014.37 and income from the Financial Secretary totaled $26,624.70. The beginning balance as of 4/1/24 was $54,775.10. Interest from checking and the Cemetery CD's totaled $423.97.
Brent Niemeier moved to approve the financial reports. The motion was seconded by Dean Damme and carried.
Elders' Report - Mr. Damme reported that Pastor Wagner is continuing to serve Zion Harbine. The Oprhan Grain Train will be hosted by the church on Sept. 1st.
Pastor's Report - Pastor Wagner. The average second quarter attendance at church was 59. The average church attendance for the year is 62. The Nebraska District Convention will be June 20-21, 2025. The theme is: "God's Family Together - Joined in His Mission". First Trinity Lutheran can recommend nominations and submit overtures. The congregation should certify a lay voting delegate and an alternate. We will have a circuit forum to elect a circuit visitor. Pastor reported on the number of shut-in's he visits.
Trustee's Report - Matt Brott. Mr. Brott reported the church was paid for haying. The west AC unit on the church is now working. Vans Water Proofing should be at the church working in July.
Stewardship/Board of Education Report - John Niemeier. Mr. Niemeier reported First Trinity has one first grader enrolled at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Plymouth for this coming year. The cost to the church is $1,530.00. This amount is the difference between a member and non-member tuition at St. Paul's Lutheran school in Beatrice.
Cemetery Sexton - David Faulder. Mr. Faulder reported total cemetery funds as of July 8 were $56,994.12 plus accrued interest and deposits. The CD at First State Bank was cashed June 12th and placed in checking. Propose to roll this into the 5.0% CD for 18 month at LCEF, as New Money. CD-8228 paid YTD $761.61 in interest and CD 2378 has paid $495.90 in interest (as of July 8, 2024), for a total of $1,257.30, first half 2024. The total cemetery funds are $56,504.12 plus accured interest and deposits. The LCEF 4.0% CD matures in March 2024 and will provide another opportunity for higher investment. The First State Bank 60-month CD matures on 6/12/24. This CD is currently at 3.0%. A LCEF 30 month CD matures 8/19/26 and is invested at 6.25%.
Unfinished Business - The Pictorial Church Directory update is scheduled for this fall.
New Business - The Anniversary report was given by Mrs. Melissa Larmeu. (attached) Discussion centered on the church parsonage vacancy. Options are renting the house out of leave it empty. If the house is rented out the county will put it on the tax roll. A motioin was made by Kyle Spilker to adjourn, seconded by Ron Malchow. Motion carried. The meeting was closed with the Lord's Prayer at 11:25 a.m. There were 20 members and one guest present. Respectfully submitted, Dave Barnard, Secretary - Approved.
FIRST TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES - AUGUST 13, 2024
Meeting was called to order by Church President Russell Behrends. Pastor Wagner gave an opening devotion from Luke chapter 18. Minutes of the July council meeting were approved as presented.
Ron Malchow presented the Financial Secretary's report. The Treasurer's report was presented by Kyle Spilker. Income for July was $7,011.33, expenses $14,800.72. With an ending balance of $44,488.00. Motion was made to accept financial reports by Dean Damme. Second by David Faulder. Motion carried. (See reports.)
Elders' Report - Dean Damme. Next months meeting will be on September 10th with elder's meeting at 7:30 p.m. and Council at 8:30 p.m. Pastor Wagner will leave for vacation the afternoon of September 8th. Pastor Schauer will be the substitute pastor on September 15th.
Pastor's Report - Pastor Wagner - All Professional Church Workers conference October 17th & 18th in Kearney.
Trustee's Report - Jim Nelson - Updated the insurance policy with the change in copiers. The Board of Trustees has opted to not lock in propane for this winter. Still waiting for the contractor to start on the steeple repair and painting.
Stewardship/Board of Education - John Niemeier - Will have two elementary students attending St. Paul's in Plymouth, NE.
Karen Pfingsten has volunteered to teach the younger midweek class.
Cemetary Sexton - David Faulder - A placard sign with cemetery rules has been placed on the east side of the cement parking slab on the north side of the cemetery. David has moved money into a new certificate of deposit for 18 months with a rate of 5%. David is thinking about getting quotes for repainting the cemetery entrance arch. Discussion was held that this would be the time to widen the arch with moving the posts or possibly moving it over to be by the parking slab. It was mentioned if going to do this, it should be done beore the 150th Anniversary. Will be looking into a new light to illuminat the American flag, as the current one is not very bright if it is even working at all.
Old Business - None.
New Business - None.
Motion was made by Pastor Timothy Wagner to adjourn, seconded by Dean Damme. Motion carried. Meeting was closed with the Lord's Prayer.
Members present included: David Faulder, Kyle Spilker, Pastor Timothy Wagner, John Niemeier, Ron Malchow, Russell Behrends, Jim Nelson and Dean Damme. Submitted by Elder Dean Damme.
FIRST TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH 150TH PLANNING COMMITTEE INFORMATION UPDATE:
Official Date for the BIG Celebration: June 15, 2025. Pastor Rockenbach has accepted invitation to come back and lead this special service. We are currently working on bids from food vendors, to serve the meal that will follow the service. Also working on bids for an area photographer to take pictures of the entire congregation on the special celebration and capture photos of the day.
Anna Pohlmann and Stacy Damme are working on a cookbook that will be for sale starting this fall. Deadline for cookbook enties is August 11th. Proceeds raised will help with some of the expenses for the 150th. We are also currently applying for grants to also help raise money.
Church Directory: We have been in contact with the church directory committee and we are aiming to have this start this fall.
A new update church book will also be for sale. We will combine the information from the book that was sold for the 125th and add the past 25 years to creat the new book. Anna has also been doing research to see if there is any additional information form the past that can be added.
Entertainment Committe: Robin Hahn Robin Hahn is the head of this committee. We are hoping to have a unique event that will take place each month, starting in Janaury 2025 and last event would take place in December 2025. Robin is working with the Homestead National Monument in regards to having a church service take place at the school on the Homestead property. April 27th is the tentative day for this church service. We are also working on having Pure Nebraska cover this special event.
Announcements for Event: Anna Pohlmann will be working on creating special invitations that will be sent out ot our previous Pastors and teachers for First Trinity. We are aiming to have our list of special events finalized by Fall so this can be included with the invitations and also posted on the church Facebook page.
We also have a float committee that will be creating a float that can be used in the Homestead Days Parade next year, various area parades and the lighted Christmas parade in Beatrice.
We feel social media is also an excellent way of advertising the various events that will take place. We will also utililze the radio, TV and local newspapers to help put the word out.