COUNCIL NOTES JULY 17, 2012

7-9PM Greenwood Office

Present: Pastor Eric Likkel, Elder David Anema, Deacons Mark Nelson, Teresa Elenbaas

Eric Likkel notes:

–   Check-in – Prayer

–   June 10 Road Crew follow-up – mellow meeting, somewhat light attendance

–   Deacons updates:

o   Children’s Ministry: Teresa reports there are helpful parents steppping up to plan Godly Play; she occasionally  needs help discerning alternatives to few Sundays when Matt Park is away; Council notes great abundance of new babies within Emmaus Road, a wonderful gift, treasure, and responsibility; Big Kids Bible Workshop going well, though “tweeners” are not participating, or will not be next year; Angie doing great advance planning, almost finished entire year program; Pastor Eric shared how serious ministry of equipping parents to embrace calling as “pastor” to their own kids remains essential task

o   Music/Worship: Council discussed ongoing challenge of engaging congregation; seems like people come to worship encased in “shell of ice” which needs to be melted; level of engagement varies widely week to week, in terms of how Mark Nelson senses it; definitely need to restore nonfunctioning projector, AND, should use top half of screen as lower half is difficult to view; ANOTHER IDEA, push Invocation/Communal Greeting earlier in service, but delay Godly Play/BKBW exit until after another song, allowing parents full participation in Communal Greeting, rather than having them leave during crucial connecting time; have Storyteller(s) ready in back of room to accompany children upstairs, allowing parents to stay if possible; a gooseneck mic would be good fof pulpit, removing obstacle of constant fumbling w/mic by readers

o   Finance: Pastor Likkel related brief summary from Treasurer Engel, that June was a more solid month of giving; members seem to be taking advantage of Paypal

–   Elders: Time to survey Emmaus Road re: individuals’ connection level?

o   Council affirms Elder survey as Pastor presented it; healthy questions; provide structure for Elders to break ice, do their job

–   Fellowship “Fair” or “Party” (see notes online)

o   Challenge not to let it become hardcore recruiting event that people would avoid; perhaps cast as “Fall Kickoff Party” announcing inclusion of a brief presentation of Fellowship Opportunities, and provide “soft sell” to engage in variety of ways (small groups, Dads/Dudes, volunteering, etc.); Teresa aware of need for “South End Group” type group for “North End”; Greenwood office potential location for said group as a “third space”

–   Leadershp Retreat – Elders, Deacons, Small Group leaders/hosts?

o   Council likes idea of leadership retreat

–   News:

o   Great to see Greg Berger again; also good to hear from Tim Phipps recently

o   Elder Anema related brief account of contrasting meetings in Belltown, one w/regular neighborhood association, versus mtg. w/board of Street Bean; great contrast in tone, communication style, feeling, etc.

ACTION ITEMS:

–       Likkel to order replacement lamp for projector

–       Likkel/Nelson follow through w/adjustments to liturgy

–       Nelson look into gooseneck mic

–       Likkel follow up w/Elders re: Survey

–       Likkel plan “Fall Kickoff Party”

–       Likkel plan Leadership Retreat