From our ELDERS

September 2010  Newsletter

Below are the minutes from the August Elders meeting held Thursday, August 5. All Elders were present for this meeting.
1. Opening Devotions were held by Pastor Stein
2. Ron Smith gave a brief summary of the Doxology training that he and Pastor Stein attended over the weekend of July 31st. Ron encouraged all of the elders to attend this training next year.
3. Pastor Stein gave his monthly report which included thanking the Elders for conducting the worship services during his absence. The Elders also want to thank Pastor ET Keller for the excellent dialogue sermons he wrote for the services and also the members of the Congregation for their support of the Elders to conduct these services and for supporting Pastor Stein's attendance of the Doxology training.
4. Each Elder was provided a copy of the Families in his Elder group. There are some corrections that need to be made and revised copies will be provided at the members that have been assigned to his district.  There was also discussion regarding members not regularly attending worship services. Ron pointed out that most of the churches at
Doxology worship an average of 30-40% if their members. Elders are encouraged to contact these members in an effort to gather them into our worship services.
5. A new program was discussed to get more people involved in church activities. It was discussed that many people, especially those new to our community, may not know who to go to when they need services such as car service and repairs. It was decided that Ron Smith, Rick Dus, and Rich Westpfahl will be at church Saturday September 25 for people to bring their autos to the church for opinions or referral to a reputable mechanic. We ask for members not to be shy; and if you have any questions regarding car repairs or service bring it to church on Saturday and get your questions answered. More ideas to follow.
6. The building project was discussed. Rich Westpfahl pointed out the need for extensive repairs in several areas for the existing building. Rich is preparing a file of the foremost items and will provide an estimate cost for each of the listed repair needs. Ron Smith is checking with the building architect to get an updated cost estimate for the original building plans, since this cost estimate is nearly 3 years old. A presentation will be made to the complete congregation after regular worship services. Suggestions were made to set up a spring 2011 ground breaking for the new building.
7. Pastor Stein proposed a Deacon program to the Elders. He would like to have 2 or 3 men who would meet with him for comprehensive instructions. Their role would be to support Pastor Stein in areas such as hospital and shut-in visits. There are no lay people currently trained to fill in for Pastor in these areas.
8. Anthony Hovath's proposal was tabled until the September meeting, allowing all of the Elders to completely understand his proposal.
It certainly has been a summer of disasters and challenges on a local as well as a worldwide scale. We had floods, tornados, oil spills and an economy that is completely in the tank. Where do we turn for an explanation? Where to we turn for comfort, safety and inspiration? Are we living in fear or running around like Chicken Little, saying the world is coming to an end? For one who has no faith in our LORD, Jesus Christ it must certainly feel like it is the end. For people who have no faith, I believe the only one they can turn to is the Government. Now that is a scary and mortifying situation where one can only turn to an uncaring institution that will only enslave you as an indentured servant. What gods do we worship, such as toys, vices, money or self? Whom do we want to please? Who will always love us, regardless of how many times we trip and let our faith slip? Who do we want to serve?
For someone who has faith in Jesus, who loves and protects us regardless of the situation there is peace. He will not make things easy, but then we are only temporarily passing through this world, looking to gain the next world, having eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Jude 17-21 States: 17But dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desire. 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 2°But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. "
Respectfully submitted,
Bernie Clements
Board of Elders

From our ELDERS

September 2010  Newsletter

Below are the minutes from the August Elders meeting held Thursday, August 5. All Elders were present for this meeting.
1. Opening Devotions were held by Pastor Stein
2. Ron Smith gave a brief summary of the Doxology training that he and Pastor Stein attended over the weekend of July 31st. Ron encouraged all of the elders to attend this training next year.
3. Pastor Stein gave his monthly report which included thanking the Elders for conducting the worship services during his absence. The Elders also want to thank Pastor ET Keller for the excellent dialogue sermons he wrote for the services and also the members of the Congregation for their support of the Elders to conduct these services and for supporting Pastor Stein's attendance of the Doxology training.
4. Each Elder was provided a copy of the Families in his Elder group. There are some corrections that need to be made and revised copies will be provided at the members that have been assigned to his district.  There was also discussion regarding members not regularly attending worship services. Ron pointed out that most of the churches at
Doxology worship an average of 30-40% if their members. Elders are encouraged to contact these members in an effort to gather them into our worship services.
5. A new program was discussed to get more people involved in church activities. It was discussed that many people, especially those new to our community, may not know who to go to when they need services such as car service and repairs. It was decided that Ron Smith, Rick Dus, and Rich Westpfahl will be at church Saturday September 25 for people to bring their autos to the church for opinions or referral to a reputable mechanic. We ask for members not to be shy; and if you have any questions regarding car repairs or service bring it to church on Saturday and get your questions answered. More ideas to follow.
6. The building project was discussed. Rich Westpfahl pointed out the need for extensive repairs in several areas for the existing building. Rich is preparing a file of the foremost items and will provide an estimate cost for each of the listed repair needs. Ron Smith is checking with the building architect to get an updated cost estimate for the original building plans, since this cost estimate is nearly 3 years old. A presentation will be made to the complete congregation after regular worship services. Suggestions were made to set up a spring 2011 ground breaking for the new building.
7. Pastor Stein proposed a Deacon program to the Elders. He would like to have 2 or 3 men who would meet with him for comprehensive instructions. Their role would be to support Pastor Stein in areas such as hospital and shut-in visits. There are no lay people currently trained to fill in for Pastor in these areas.
8. Anthony Hovath's proposal was tabled until the September meeting, allowing all of the Elders to completely understand his proposal.
It certainly has been a summer of disasters and challenges on a local as well as a worldwide scale. We had floods, tornados, oil spills and an economy that is completely in the tank. Where do we turn for an explanation? Where to we turn for comfort, safety and inspiration? Are we living in fear or running around like Chicken Little, saying the world is coming to an end? For one who has no faith in our LORD, Jesus Christ it must certainly feel like it is the end. For people who have no faith, I believe the only one they can turn to is the Government. Now that is a scary and mortifying situation where one can only turn to an uncaring institution that will only enslave you as an indentured servant. What gods do we worship, such as toys, vices, money or self? Whom do we want to please? Who will always love us, regardless of how many times we trip and let our faith slip? Who do we want to serve?
For someone who has faith in Jesus, who loves and protects us regardless of the situation there is peace. He will not make things easy, but then we are only temporarily passing through this world, looking to gain the next world, having eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Jude 17-21 States: 17But dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desire. 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 2°But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. "
Respectfully submitted,
Bernie Clements
Board of Elders