The Galilean Log
January 2011
From Pastor Randy
TO THE MEMBERS OF GALILEAN:
I am pleased to be your interim pastor and I look forward to serving along side you.I also look forward to getting to know each one of you!
The church council and I have agreed that I will work 65% time - I know that sounds like a strange percentage, but it seemed the most reasonable considering how much work there is for a pastor at Galilean (a lot!) and how much time I have available while owning an Anytime Fitness in Clear Lake and one in Algona.
will cover most of the pastoral duties and will be on call at all times. course I will have to say “no” to some of the less essential duties.I will do much of my preparation at home, but please feel free to call me with any issues that we need to discuss.My cell phone number is 641-420-7650. write that number down right now somewhere where you can find it and when you call, please don’t be thrown off if I answer it “Anytime Fitness”!
Following is a few things about me and family:
My wife’s name is Deb.She offers music therapy to people at the hospital, area nursing homes and to hospice patients. also works part time and does children’s music classes at Music Man Square.In Clear Lake she comes to Oakwood Care Center and to Apple Valley Assisted Living.She also comes to Concord Nursing Home in Garner.
Jackie, our oldest daughter, lives in New York City and is doing graphic design for a Jewelry company called Satya.
Candi, our second daughter, just graduated from UNI with a major in Art:Photography.She is going to spend 6 weeks soon doing an internship at an animal sanctuary in Utah.
I have been a pastor now for 29 years and have served about 15 congregations as interim pastor in the past 20 years - in fact I served as Interim at Galilean in 1993 for a few months.When I can find the time I like to hunt, fish, and play racquetball. I look forward to sharing more about myself in the months to come!
God’s blessing to each of you.
Pastor Randy
Thoughts from the President’s Desk
What a whirlwind year this has been. I usually take up a lot of room in the LOG with my ramblings so this month I will be brief and surgery, (same as short and sweet!).
I cannot begin to thank the entire congregation enough for the support you have given me in this somewhat rough year. When Pastor Jeff left us in July I kept imagining a voice saying “The Pastor left you for another love, that other love was another “call”. At first I was sad but then I also imagined a voice saying “Yes Pastor Jeff left you but I love you all so much I am going to stay.” God’s voice? What a beautiful thought.
When I start feeling alone and deserted, I think of those words and to maybe prove that those words were not in my imagination, I look at the many ways that the congregation has stepped up to the plate and made ready to knock one out of the park, and they always do! Galileans! You are the greatest!!
Keep the faith.
In Christ’s love,
Everyone is Someone.
Bob Johnson
Operation Christmas Child Results
Thank you to all Galileans’ who filled a box for Operation Christmas Child this year!
I delivered 55 boxes to the distribution center—a record for Galileans!
Also, Sandy Gunnerson, Louanne Bonin, Lou Stealy & Jan Fynskov traveled with me to Minnesota on November 29 to work at the center there. It was a powerful experience that we look forward to doing again next year. I hope more Galileans will be able to go with us!!
With Thanks & Blessings to you all ~
Marilyn Chalgren
Please Remember in your Prayers
Our Homebound
Dick Becker
Sandra Fischer
Those who are ill
Betty Wind
Barb Goettel
In Mourning
The family of Karen Barrett
The family of Anne Hennigs
The family of Dorothy Thomsen
Getting better
day by day!!Jim Latham
Expecting
Eric & Kim Reicherts
Our Men in the Military
Cole Fatland
Andrew Branstad
Chris Sorensen
Mathias Morris
Council Minutes ~ 12.14.10
Present:
Pastor Randy Nielsen, Bob Johnson, Ce Ce Fuller, Dana Sorensen, Connie Bieber, Marilyn Chalgren, Sally Litterer, Leanne Hicks, Dan Gapinski, Kelsey Litterer. Absent: Susan Starrett, Vickie Whelan, Amy Pralle, Jeff Stealy.
Devotions
were given by Kelsey Litterer.
Marilyn
moved and Sally seconded to approve the council minutes, motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report:
The Harvest Dinner made $1,239 to go to the Socks for Soldiers. The socks were picked up and successfully shipped. The Treasurer’s report was moved by Leanne and seconded by Connie. Motion passed.
No reports were given from Stewardship, Property, Evangelism, Congregational Life or Learning.
Youth:
Christmas by the Lake even was a success! The youth had a fishing house where kids fished for goodie bags. The house was shut down early because the goodie bags were gone! The youth also raised approximately $200 at the bake sale they held during Fellowship on Dec. 5. The monies from the Christmas by the Lake was used towards the Angel Tree at the Clear Lake Mirror Reporter.
Youth at large:
the youth Christmas party was moved from Dec. 12 to Dec. 19 at 5 pm due to the weather on Dec. 12.
Social Concerns:
We are in charge of the Oakwood Birthday Party on December 30 at 2 pm. Galilean is also on charge of the IFCA Christmas Dinner to be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Christmas day. The sign up sheet will be picked up on Dec. 20th.
Worship:
There will be a 7 pm Christmas Eve service with Holy Communion being served by Intinction. It will also be a candlelight service. There will be no worship services on Saturday, Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Dec. 26th worship service will be a hymn sing!
Correspondence:
The Martin Brothers Company has given Galilean a $1,000 Credit Limit… (charge account).
Parish Office:
January LOG articles due on Thurs. Dec. 23. Karen will be in the office Dec. 20-23 and Dec. 27-30. The office will be closed on Christmas Eve Day and New Years Eve Day.
Old Business:
RAGBRAI has given Galilean a check for $185. Money from RAGBRAI was evenly distributed between all those that helped.
Pastor Randy Nielsen
will be an indefinite interim pastor. He was hired on Dec. 6. He will be giving 25-30 hours of pastoral service a week. His cell phone # will be in the Bulletins and he is available 24/7. The church has purchased a new laptop computer for his use.
The council
began setting the budget for the Annual Meeting.
The Annual Meeting
is Sunday, January 16 beginning at 10:45 am. All Commission Reports are DUE into the church office by Thursday, January 6.
The next meeting is January 11. Bob Johnson will give devotions.
The meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer and a Prayer to Bless the Socks for Soldiers.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kelsey Litterer
November 2010 Treasurer’s Report
Regular Giving: $9,337.75 Designated Giving: $1,416.04 Memorials Received: $25.00
Congregational Life: $3.64 Total Incoming: $10,782.43
Operating Expense: $5,416.65 CLB & T Loan Payment: $364.99
Designated Giving Paid Out: $215.00 Memorial Funds used: $0 Total Outgoing: $5,996.64
Designated Giving Received in November: $1,206.00 Fall Harvest Dinner
RAGBRAI Donation: $185.04 World Hunger: $25.00 (Memorial)
Average Attendance 2009: 102 Average Attendance 2010: 83
Respectfully Submitted Sally Litterer, Treasurer
Galilean Lutheran Church Spending Guide ~ 2011
Budget 2011 followed by Budget 2010
Commissions:
Congregational Life $1,200 $1,200Evangelism $1,100 $1,100
Learning $2,000 $1,000
Property $10,000 $3,500
Social Concerns $ 150 $ 150
Stewardship $ 350 $ 350
Youth Ministry $3,000 $ —-
Worship $1,000 $,1000
Organization
Council $ 250 $ 250History $ 100 $ 100
Supply Pastor $ 600 $ 600
Insurance $2,860 $2,750
Office Supplies $5,000 $5,000
Telephone $1,200 $1,200
Utilities $6,700 $6,000
Debt Obligations
HVAC Loan $7,164HVAC Interest on Loan $ —
Line of Credit Loan $ — $4,000
Line of Credit Interest $ —
CLB & T Refinance Loan $7,200
CLB & T Refinance Interest
Mission Support
Resource Center $ 175 $ 150Synod Support $6,000 $6,000
Synod-World Hunger $1,500 $1,500
Seminary & Education 1,000 $1,000
Staff
Custodial Service $3,600 $3,600Parish Administrator $14,400 $14,000
Pastor
Base Salary $35,200 $42,662
Housing Allowance $10,560 $12,800
S. S. Allowance $ 3,325 $ 4,243
Pension/Medical $21,075 $22,457
Auto Allowance $ 2,000 $ 2,000
Continuing Education $ 1,250 $ 2,100
Professional Development $ 300 $ 300
Synod Assembly $ 500
Totals for Year: $143, 595 $148,276
Here’s Who’s Doing What for Worship & Fellowship ~ January 2011
Sunday, January 2
Accompanist
: Brenda BonnstetterAcolyte: Krystle Lu
Worship Assistant: Deb Brastrom
Reader: Dan Gapinski
Communion Prep: Kayla Bonnstetter,
Kelsey Litterer
Communion Servers: Dan Gapinski,
Kayla Bonnstetter
Usher/Greeters: Scott & Sue Brandt
Coffee Hosts: Davis Youth
Bread/Juice for the month: Shirley Peterson
Sunday, January 9
Accompanist
: Linda HopperAcolyte: Juel Hanson
Worship Assistant: Marilyn Chalgren
Reader: Mike Eddy
Usher/Greeters: Larry & Lorraine Hoffman
Coffee Hosts: Wayne & Amy Pralle
Sunday, January 16
Accompanist
: Linda HopperAcolyte: Ben Litterer
Worship Assistant: Janeil Olson
Reader: Paula Hicks
Communion Prep: Ruth Topp
Communion Servers: Sharon Ryg, Dick Olson,
Susan Starrett
Usher/Greeters: Fred &Paula Petersburg
Coffee Hosts: Larry & Sue Eichmeier
Sunday, January 23
Accompanist
: Sonja BackerAcolyte: Bryce Olson
Worship Assistant: Kelsey Litterer
Reader: Dave Bauer
Usher/Greeters: Jack & Sandi Davis
Coffee Hosts: Susan Starrett,
Clay & Susan Starrett
Sunday, January 30
Accompanist
: Brenda BonnstetterAcolyte: Emma Whelan
Worship Assistant: Kayla Bonnstetter
Reader: Jim Latham
Usher/Greeters: Leanne Hicks, Paula Hicks
Coffee Hosts: Chuck & Bev Clapsaddle
Video-Cam
: Ian, Andrew & Hannah DavisJust Desserts Bible Study
Will be meeting on Tuesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm at Apple Valley Assisted Living Home. This is a new study so please join us! This group is for couples, singles, young adults! YOU are welcome!
From the Learning Commission
There is no Sunday School on Sunday January 2. Classes resume on Sunday, January 9. Please note: there will be NO Sunday School on Sunday, January 16, due to the Annual Meeting being held.
Louanne Bonin has volunteered to do the Heifer Project for the Sunday school in January!! Thanks Louanne!
Sue Brandt & Vicki Whelan
Angelfood Ministries January 2011
Order Forms are on the table
in the back of the sanctuary.
Thanks!
Women’s Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study & Sharing Group will be starting a new study on Tuesday, January 11. (Weather permitting). It will be a study of the Book of Acts. We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 9:30 to 11:00 am.
We welcome New Members!!
Socks for Soldiers!!!!
The proceeds from our Annual Fall Harvest Festival Dinner was a great success!! 1,650 pairs of socks were sent to our soldiers in Afghanistan!
Thanks goes out to all who supported this great effort!! And to Janeil Olson for her
planning and executing this event and happening!!
Our Thanks go out to ~
To ~
All who helped with the decorating of the church for Christmas!! And to Jeff Stealy for helping get the tree set up! Also to Mary Stealy for her special gift of greenery & bows and other décor she made and gave! AND to Dave & Linda Hopper for the beautiful Advent Wreath! AND to Bev Clapsaddle for the ‘seasonal change’ on our Generosity Tree!To ~
Glen & Maxine Shropshire for their donation of $ to help cover the cost of the Sunday school kids Christmas treats and goodies!!To ~
Maxine Shropshire’s daughter for her donation of the dish towels to the church kitchen!!To ~
Brenda Bonnstetter for her dedication the last 25 years directing the Bell Choir!!To ~
Marilyn Chalgren for her setting up of the tables for the Soup Suppers and having it all ‘ready to go’ each Wednesday during Advent!To ~
Dan Gapinski, Ian Davis, Jacob Welper, Kelsey Litterer & Brenda Bonnstetter for leading us in our Advent Worship services. And to ALL who provided foods for the meals!To ~
the Sunday school kids and teachers for the Advent Program and the beautiful Advent Banners!!To ~
Bob Johnson for providing us with the new Home Communion Kits!!To ~
Janeil Olson for getting the “Socks for our Soldiers” organized and to Bev Clapsaddle for printing labels attached to EACH pair of socks!
Click here for the January 2011 Calendar