July Faith Lutheran Church Council Minutes

 

Faith Lutheran Church Council Minutes-July 9, 2026

Attending council members: President - Lori Pietsch, Vice President - Randy Gustafson, S.A.M. - Ralph Flitter,

Treasurer - Jane Piepgras, Kathy Guyer, Deacons - Sherri Gustafson, Mary Feder, Cindy Lehman, Trustees - Chad Becker, Ben Odegard, BOE - Steph Odegard, Julia Young, Patti Young

 

Lori Pietsch called the meeting to order - Ralph Flitter opened the meeting with a prayer.

 

Secretary’s Report: Reviewed May minutes as printed in the newsletter.

 

Treasurer’s Report: June expenses were $10,648.26 and receipts $8,876.13.

 

Trustees Report: Satisfied where the budget is mid-year. Reported an increase in Centerpoint Energy monthly budget billing $396 to $592. Church CD was renewed for 5 months at an interest rate of 3.65. Dumpster has been requested for the week of VBS. Discussed budgeting more dollars for Synod Assembly costs. Will meet with Ryan Visher, Watonwan Emergency Management & Safety Director, who will assist with plans to mitigate disasters that could possibly affect our church. Will contact Elite Electrical for repairs to the church bell.

 

Deacon’s Report: Deacons will cover Altar Guild for the months of July and August. Ralph has requested that intinction be offered as a communion option one communion Sunday in August.

 

Board of Ed: The 2027 Tri-Annual Youth Gathering will be held in Minneapolis June 28-July 2nd. All interested youth grades 8-12 are welcome to attend. Informational letters will be sent to parents. JAM will start the 2nd week of

September, an informational letter will be distributed at VBS.

 

S.A.M. Report: For the month of June; Ralph officiated 3 baptisms at Faith and one wedding at Lake Hanska. Attended the Synod Assembly where he was officially commissioned as a Synod Authorized Minister (S.A.M.) Will be participating in Hanska’s 125th Community Anniversary church service on August 23rd. No services at Lake Hanska that day, Mya

Hanson will conduct worship services at Faith.

 

Motion to approve all reports was made by Ben Odegard and seconded by Julia Young.

 

Old Business: Peace of the Prairie service at Faith July 12th no services at Lake Hanska. September 27th- Bible Service,

October 27-New Member Service. The new table cart was delivered for stacking tables.

 

New Business: Carol Meier “Church Musician’s Retreat” will be held September 24-26 in Windom. Cost will be $300.

Motion was made by Sherri Gustafson and seconded by Patti Young to have Audrey Anderson attend. We are currently looking for a new church custodian. Confirmation will resume September 30th, 16 students have registered. Second year students will be confirmed April 25, 2027. A Communion Information Class will be held sometime this Fall, a time has not been set. Children’s sermons are scheduled for: Sept. 20, Oct. 25, Nov. 15th and Dec. 20th. VBS received a generous

donation from the American Legion - $1,000 and the Presbyterian Mission Fund - $3,000. A big thank you to both

organizations.

 

With no further business before the Council, a motion was made by Kathy Guyer and seconded by Ben, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

 

Respectfully submitted, Jane Piepgras - Treasurer

 

New Business: Carol Meier “Church Musician’s Retreat” will be held September 24-26 in Windom. Cost will be $300. Motion was made by Sherri Gustafson and seconded by Patti Young to have Audrey Anderson attend. We are currently looking for a new church custodian. Confirmation will resume September 30th, 16 students have registered. Second year students will be confirmed April 25, 2027. A Communion Information Class will be held sometime this Fall, a time has not been set. Children’s sermons are scheduled for: Sept. 20, Oct. 25, Nov. 15th and Dec. 20th. VBS received a generous donation from the American Legion -$1,000 and the Presbyterian Mission Fund-$3,000. A big thank you to both organizations.

With no further business before the Council, a motion was made by Kathy Guyer and seconded by Ben , to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted, Jane Piepgras - Treasurer

 

 

 

 

August News from Lake Hanska

 

News From Lake Hanska Lutheran Church

 

     Noisy Offering Sunday  -  August 30^th at Lake Hanska Lutheran Church will be the Noisy Offering

Sunday. Continue to collect your change during August, and add it to the Noisy Offering Cans on Sunday, August 30^th. This offering goes to the World Hunger Mission. We look forward to seeing the cans fill up for this mission gift.

 

     Food Shelf Report  -  We delivered 30 lbs. of products for the month of June. We are so grateful to

deliver goods at the end of each month. It is so easy to drop any non-perishable groceries, cleaning supplies, or hygiene supplies into the box provided in the Narthex of the church.

 

     WELCA Quilters Report   -   Two quilters met to tie a fleece blanket before they met with the rest of the quilters to have lunch together at Cottonwood Grill. What a fun get-together to enjoy.  We’d love for you to come join us. If you have any materials in good shape, or donating cash to buy more materials as our

resources for funds are limited. If interested, we do also sell our quilts for $25 each. Quilters meet again on Wednesday, August 5^th.

 

     Lawn Mowing Time   ----   This time is here. Please respect your time slot. Our yard has been very well taken care of, so we thank everyone for that. If, for some reason, you can not mow during your time slot, please trade with another person to keep our property looking excellent all summer. Thank you for your help.

 

     Lawn Mowers  -----  This is a 2-week schedule

July 24 thru August 13  -----  Brian Kjelshus and Collin Kjelshus

            August 14 thru August 27  -----  Larry Stoesz, Jordan Lilleodden and Ian Kjelshus

            August 28 thru September 10  -----  Lynn Ahlness and Riley Ahlness

 

     August Altar Committee  -  Beth Kral, Nancy Lilleodden and Bonnie Lilleodden

 

     Ushers   -----  August 2^nd and 9^th  -----  Grant Sletta and Norman Skarphol              

                            August 16^th and 23^rd  -----  Brian Kjelshus and Dennis Broste

                            August 30^th and September 6^th  -----  Lynn Ahlness and Riley Ahlness

 

Operation Christmas Child

 

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

It is that time again!

Supplies are NEEDED to help us fill at least 200 boxes.

¨ Everything School supply related: pencils, colors, notebooks, colored pencils, erasers, scissors, chalkboards with chalk, glue sticks (liquid kind cannot be sent).

¨ Non-liquid Hygiene supplies: bar soap, toothbrush, hair brush, comb, hair ties (cannot send toothpaste or Elmer's glue).

¨ Clothing accessories: tops, shoes (sandals), socks.

¨ Toys: Plush animals, Beanie Babies, soccer ball with pump, doll. 

¨ A small sewing kit - this can actually become an income for a family. Clothesline and Clothespins.

¨ Playing cards or other small brain games.

¨ A personal note from you - if you include your name and address it’s possible that the child could write you back!

NO LIQUIDS OF ANY KIND!

Bring your contributions to 

Faith Lutheran Church
there will be a collection table in the entryway.

Packing of the boxes will be on Wednesday November 4th
at a time to be announced.  We would love to have you come and help.

 

Scripture Readings for August

August Message from Ralph

August Message from Ralph

 It seems like summer just arrived and now we’re entering what some call the “dog days” of summer, The time when the southern lakes of Minnesota turn green, cottonwood trees send their snowflakes all over, and in years past the weather turned hot and then cooler as we approached September. Really the dog days are from July 3 through August 11! The phrase traces back to ancient Greek and Roman astrology. They believed that the star Sirius – the Dog Star – rose alongside the sun, and its immense brightness combined with the sun’s hear caused the sweltering weather. But, like many things, what was the trend in the past is now changed. Mid July was a hot week of 90+ each day – and who knows what the climate will do in the future. 

Out church year also goes through a stretch that one might call “dog days.” Things tend to slow down in the summertime – confirmation awaits the fall, JAM awaits the new school year, VBS has ended and August just seems like a bridge to get us to the fall. Everyone takes as much advantage as they can to the warm Minnesota before the cold Minnesota strikes. And all of this is well and good as long as we don’t forget to thank the God who created us and the wonderful nature around us. 

The gospel texts for August begin to point us to the events of Advent, Christmas, and ultimately Lent and Easter. They begin with water – the water of life that we receive from Jesus. Then nature takes center stage as we once again witness Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. And after feeling the effects of the storm – we hear of the great mercy of Jesus. On the 23rd Mya will be speaking – and I do not know her approach – but the text for the day has to do with the building of Christs’ church on a rock – the one called Peter. And we end the month on a theme of liberation! That theme alone points us ahead to the liberation we will find on the death and resurrection of our Lord next Easter season.

 Like everything in life, we have to sometimes go through a few potholes in the road to get to the smoother surfaces. The dog days of summer are necessary to get us to the autumn season. With autumn comes cooler temps, fall sports, and harvest for most of us in Minnesota. As avid as we are about our sports in the fall, let us be equally avid about harvesting the seeds that God has sown among us and in ourselves.

 Just one of you in Christ - Ralph

VBS News

June News From Lake Hanska Lutheran Church

 News From Lake Hanska Lutheran Church 

Settler’s Service - We have enjoyed using the School House for our worship service for the past several years. Sunday, June 14, we will once again have our Sunday morning worship service in the schoolhouse. Please come join us for this worship. 

First Communion Service - On Sunday, May 17th we will be observing First Communion service for 4 children from our congregation. Those being honored are Kellan Kamm, Nolan Kamm, Nadia Goblirsch and Paxton Schmiesing. 

Our Church Building - Our church building will be used this year for 4 weddings besides other worship and events. Please help keep our building neat and clean by helping to keep the carpets and bathrooms clean. Call Melissa Engelhart at 920-836-9564 if you can pitch-in. 

Food Shelf Report - We delivered 27 lbs. of products last month. We are so grateful to deliver goods at the end of each month. It is so easy to drop any non-perishable groceries, cleaning supplies, or hygiene supplies into the box provided in the Narthex of the church. 

WELCA Quilters Report - 5 ladies met on Wednesday, May 6th for another get-together. They prepared 2 more quilts. We’d love for you to come join us. If you have any materials good shape, or donating cash to buy more materials as our resources for funds are limited. If interested, we do also sell our quilts for $25 each. 

Bible Study - Ralph Flitter leads us in a more in-depth look of the Gospel from the worship the Sunday before we meet. Everyone (men-women-Faith Lutheran members and non-members) are welcome to join us. You do not have to do quilting if you come for the Bible Study. We will enjoy coffee and treats (optional: bring a treat to share) during the study. We look forward to seeing you. 

Living Meadows General Store - The Living Meadows at Luther celebrated the Spring Fundraiser on Tuesday, April 14th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madelia. It was a full luncheon with so much food. The Auxiliary will be able to provide several activities for the residents during this coming year. Much ‘Thank You’s’ to those that provided a salad and those ladies that worked at the luncheon. 

Lawn Mowing Time - This time is here. A list of mowing schedule will be sent out to everyone. Please respect your time slot. If for some reason you can not mow during that time slot, please trade with another person to keep our property looking excellent all summer. Thank you for your help. 

Altar Committee - Pam Kjelshus and Jane Ahlness
 Ushers - June 7th and 14th - Renee Bertilson and Roxy Oscarson 
                 June 21st and 28th - Kevin Byro and Tim Peterson

 Lawn Mowers - This schedule is on a 2-week schedule
May 29 thru June 11- Daniel Grothem and Taylor Ahlness
 June 12 thru June 25 - Andrew Lilleodden and Norm Skarphol
 June 26 thru July 10 - Mike Paulson and Bradley Paulson