Service and Missions Meeting minutes

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 9/8/2008 Committee Meeting

Present: Pastor Erik Goehner, Gordon and Melissa Henry, Pat Gallagher, Bob Boyer, Mary Goodenough, and Rachel Lundgren

Absent: none

Our Mission:

Goals of the committee focus on three areas: fostering the spirit of volunteerism among Mount Cross members and friends; reaching out with tangible aid to the least fortunate in our local community and in the global community; encouraging responsible stewardship of God’s creation.

1. Began with a prayer from Gordon. Minutes from 6/9/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2. New Business – Community Supported Agriculture – Erik learned that McGrath Family Farms is beginning a CSA program. He wondered if the committee would support finding out more about forming a group of subscribers at Mount Cross, perhaps scheduling a meeting to gather interested people. Groups consist of 10 or 30 subscribers. He will find out more and let us know.

3. Alternative Christmas Bazaar – Rachel came to share with us the plan of Ascension Lutheran in TO. Their theme is “The Journey Home” and will support displaced Southern Sudanese by providing them care packages from LWR. AL is offering to the community their planning and prep work, and hoping to make what had been their individual congregations’ efforts into a conference-wide focus for alternative gift giving. Packets are available, as well as adult and children’s books to explain the project. Rachel will order 100 packets (free) and 25 children’s books (she will front the money). Also having a concert (Albert McNeill Jubilee Singers) Nov. 2 which we agreed could be advertised at our church. We will use this as our kickoff day, with bulletin inserts in November, info in the newsletters, and tables on the patio.

4. Angel Project – Discussed whether to do both this and “Journey Home” – need to contact Char to see what her plan is for this project.

5. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: Sold $137.75 on Aug.3^rd and $259.65 on Sept. 7^th. Had 2 more volunteers to handle Sunday sales. Need someone to work Oct.5. (Pat will check.) Placed an order 9/7/08.

6. LWR Bake Sale review – Mary reported that we raised $435 and had more than 20 people bake items. Pat made the coffee for hospitality that morning, also. All in all a great success.

7. Rally Day review – Gordon reported that we had 6 people sign up as interested volunteers for various projects. Spoke with many people, and was very enthusiastic about the response. Erik will follow up with Whitney (Save Darfur) and Karen (Compassion International) to get their responses.

8. Blood Drive – There is a tentative date on the church calendar for October 26^th. Gordon volunteered to stay in touch with Keven.

9. ACS – Relay for Life: Oct. 11-12 – Sharon Korzan will serve as coordinator. Gordon will contact Sharon and find out how Rally Day table went, and if she needs any support from committee.

10. Habitat Work Day: July 19^th – Had 9 volunteers work. Gordon updated the committee on the status of the houses in Simi, and reported that Thrivent may be sponsoring another house in the county. Based on the response to the day, and the signups on Rally Day, Gordon will plan another day soon, for sometime in the fall.

11. St. Columba’s Food Pantry: Committee commends Charlene for her faithful work and constant newsletter additions. All appreciated the latest info in the last newsletter about how people qualify for help from the pantry.

12. Future fundraiser – cloth shopping bags. Old news: Melissa reported that prices had increased on all bags, although by only cents. Still want 15oz natural color bags, with logo on one side, in one color ink. Plan to charge $10 per bag to make this a fundraiser. Decided funds raised will go toward the Tijuana housebuilding trip. Will say, “Mount Cross Lutheran Church – Caring for God’s creation!” Committee agreed to order 100 bags, which might cost around $500. Melissa will work on the logo (globe with cross, sanctuary sketch) and submit it to committee via email when she has something. Committee would prefer globe with cross or globe in hands. Aim for Rally Day sale. Gordon will talk with Patti Stouch about designing a logo. Pat will share a portion of the costs with Bob and Gordon. New news: none.

13. Recent Disaster Response Form – Old News: Bob will work on the response form to print in the bulletin. New news: none.

14. Chair and Secretary Position Melissa volunteered to write up minutes and get them to Marilyn. Gordon volunteered to serve as lead for next meeting and Melissa will write up an agenda.

15. Next meeting will be held on October 6th, 7:30 pm at Mount Cross.

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 7/7/2008 Committee Meeting

Present: Cy Johnson, Gordon and Melissa Henry, Pat Gallagher, Bob Boyer, Mary Goodenough

Absent: Pastor Erik Goehner

Our Mission:

1. Began with a prayer from Cy. Minutes from 6/9/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: Sold $137.75 on July 6th. Slightly less than normal, but it was a holiday weekend. Cy, Mary, Bob, and David DelMarto have all volunteered to take a day of selling when needed in the future (thank you). Melissa will place an order before next sale.

3. Blood Drive – June 22^nd – results: Cy thought we raised between 14-16 pints, will double check with Kevin.

4. Compassion International – Aug. 3 – Pastor Erik was not here to report.

5. Future fundraiser – cloth shopping bags. Old news: Melissa reported that prices had increased on all bags, although by only cents. Still want 15oz natural color bags, with logo on one side, in one color ink. Plan to charge $10 per bag to make this a fundraiser. Decided funds raised will go toward the Tijuana housebuilding trip. Will say, “Mount Cross Lutheran Church – Caring for God’s creation!” Committee agreed to order 100 bags, which might cost around $500. Melissa will work on the logo (globe with cross, sanctuary sketch) and submit it to committee via email when she has something. New News: Committee would prefer globe with cross or globe in hands. Aim for Rally Day sale. Gordon will talk with Patti Stouch about designing a logo. Pat will share a portion of the costs with Bob and Gordon.

6. Food Share Youth Work Day - Pastor Erik was not here to report.

7. ACS – Relay for Life: Oct. 11-12 – Sharon Korzan will serve as coordinator. Cy reported that she has been to a few planning meetings and will let us know when she needs our help.

8. Habitat Work Day: July 19^th – Currently have 7 volunteers signed up. Lunch will be provided by Habitat. Gordon will be on the patio this Sunday with building materials and a clipboard to try and get the last few volunteers.

9. St. Columba’s Food Pantry: No new information at this time.

10. Recent Disasters: Old News: Bob suggested putting some information into the newsletter on the differences between the Lutheran organizations, such as LDR and ELCA Hunger Appeal. Feels if the congregation knows the “track record” of these organizations it would be easier to make a decision in a time of disaster as to where to send personal donations. He will write something and submit it to Marilyn. New news: Church included a letter from the bishop a few weeks back in the bulletin, and Bob believes something similar to what he was putting together was already printed in the newsletter. He will check with Erik.

11. Review Calendar: The “Yearly Plan” log was shared with the committee. It can now serve as service log and planning tool.

Alternative Christmas Bazaar – Melissa suggested speaking with Rachel Lindgren about staffing a table for ELCA Good Gifts or Heifer Intl. again this year.

LWR Bake Sale – Mary would like to host a bake sale to raise money for LWR. She expressed interest in using our matching funds from Thrivent, however, that money is supposed to stay at Mount Cross, such as for the Raise the Roof campaign. Committee decided the church needed the funds, but we decided to progress with the Bake Sale on August 24 strictly as a straight fundraiser for LWR. It will also provide some hospitality on the patio. Melissa volunteered to be the coffee host that morning.

Table for Darfur – Whitney Carver has asked to set up a table on the patio about the continuing tragedy happening in Darfur. Committee would love to help in any way that we can. She needs to let us know what date she is leaning towards, and what help she needs.

Resignation of Cy Johnson – Cy, longtime member and last chairperson, announced his desire to resign from the committee. He has been an active volunteer for many years, and we voted he wasn’t allowed to leave us. JUST KIDDING! It is with sadness that we let him go, hopefully to rejoin us at sometime in the future. We will expect to still have him volunteer for projects he feels passionate for, and we thank him for his many hours of good service and leadership.

14. Chair and Secretary Position Melissa volunteered to write up minutes and get them to Marilyn. Bob volunteered to serve as lead for next meeting and Melissa will write up an agenda.

15. Next meeting will be held on August 4th, 7:30 pm at Mount Cross.

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 6/9/2008 Committee Meeting

Present: Cy Johnson, Gordon and Melissa Henry, Pastor Erik, Pat Gallagher, Bob Boyer, Mary Goodenough

Our Mission:

1. Began with a prayer from Gordon. Minutes from 5/12/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved. Read the mission statement aloud, to focus our group. Decided we need to include our mission statement on our newsletter page. Gordon will write up a note about the changes we have made, and to invite new members to join our committee. After that has run, we will include the mission statement in small font at the top or bottom of our page in the newsletter.

2. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: Sold $243 on June 1^st. Melissa will make another attempt to write a request for more help – it would be nice to have some other helpers to count on for some of the 12 Sundays.

3. Servant Trip to Slidell: May 3- May 10. The MIBI funds came through at $500. However, the memorial funds we requested were denied. The committee decided to spend $380 out of our budget to reimburse the team for their trip (minus airfare). Gordon will submit his receipts.

4. Day of Service: Weekend of May 31- June 1. After a wonderful lunch (sandwiches provided by Cy, chips by Mary and Bob, drinks by Melissa and Gordon, and dessert by Erik) our team of 30 workers headed to the park. We got to every address on our list, and only left one home unfinished. Erik proposed hosting a small group to go back and finish the painting work. Committee approved, and we picked a tentative date of 6/21 9-11am to head back. Erik will check with the homeowner. Melissa suggested the next time we take flyers from Mt. Cross to hand to our homeowners as a way of sharing information with them. Also, sending someone over the day before to walk through all the job sites, gathering more insight into the jobs and perhaps organizing the team a little better before we all descend on the site, mostly to prioritize jobs to make certain we can get to everyone who needed help. Erik shared a note the church had received, and reported it even included a donation to Mount Cress. Committee decided to send thank you notes to the participants; Erik will type something up, Melissa will print and address them.

5. Future fundraiser – cloth shopping bags. Melissa reported that prices had increased on all bags, although by only cents. Still want 15oz natural color bags, with logo on one side, in one color ink. Plan to charge $10 per bag to make this a fundraiser. Decided funds raised will go toward the Tijuana housebuilding trip. Will say, “Mount Cross Lutheran Church – Caring for God’s creation!” Committee agreed to order 100 bags, which might cost around $500. Melissa will work on the logo (globe with cross, sanctuary sketch) and submit it to committee via email when she has something.

6. Food Share Youth Work Day – Erik had yet to pick a date. He will do so before the next meeting.

7. ACS – Relay for Life: no change from last month. This will be our focus for September and October. Do not have a date yet, but Cy will call Sharon Korzan and ask if she will serve as the coordinator again. He will also ask her what support she would like from the committee, and when she would like to start her advertising push. We would like to see a more unified team of youth and adult walkers.

8. Habitat Work Day: Gordon did not advertise the father/child workday as there was a “registration fee” for the day of work. He did pick a date for a Mount Cross workday – July 19^th – and had it advertised in the last newsletter and bulletin. He will continue to take signups.

9. Blood Drive: We have a blood drive scheduled for June 22^nd. Kevin Churchill is in charge of gathering volunteers. Currently have 13 sign-ups, would like 20.

10. St. Columba’s Food Pantry: No new information at this time. Committee would like more feedback from St Columba’s to increase involvement with the congregation – perhaps they have a need that we could focus on? Gordon will make contact with the pantry, and find out facts to include in the bulletin, such as the number of families they help, or the volume of food they receive.

11. Recent Disasters: Bob suggested putting some information into the newsletter on the differences between the Lutheran organizations, such as LDR and ELCA Hunger Appeal. Feels if the congregation knows the “track record” of these organizations it would be easier to make a decision in a time of disaster as to where to send personal donations. He will write something and submit it to Marilyn

12. Compassion International: Erik will contact Karen about hosting a table on the patio on Aug. 3^rd to share with the congregation.

13. Review Calendar: Melissa has designed a new spreadsheet to track volunteer time and money, hopefully making it easier to write a report at the end of the year. Erik suggested a change to it that would help it serve both as a log of hours and as a planning tool. Melissa will make the changes and bring it to the next meeting for approval. Erik also mentioned that the group who sends the box of African Christmas presents contacted him about our participation this year. Committee decided November would be a good time for an “alternative Christmas Bazaar” – including these boxed goods, and possibly a focus such as Heifer Intl or ELCA Good Gifts (perhaps olive oil from Mount of Olives). Will discuss further and choose a date.

14. Chair and Secretary Position Melissa volunteered to write up minutes and get them to Marilyn. Pat volunteered to serve as lead for next meeting and write up an agenda.

15. Next meeting will be held on July 7th, 7:30 pm at Mount Cross.

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 5/12/2008 Committee Meeting

Present: Cy Johnson, Gordon and Melissa Henry, Pastor Erik, Pat Gallagher, Bob Boyer

Absent: Mary Goodenough

Our Mission:

1. Minutes from 4/7/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: Sold $153 on May 4^th. Many thanks to Nora Wall and Scott Fajnor for handling the sale. Melissa will write for the bulletin a request for more help – it would be nice to have someone else do 6 of the 12 Sundays. Bob volunteered to help with the next sale on June 1^st at 8:45.

3. Servant Trip to Slidell: May 3- May 10. Gordon and Melissa gave a review of their trip. It was great. They worked hard and got a lot done. The team worked well together, and were already discussing their NEXT trip while still on this one. Melissa will write up a review for the newsletter, and also set up a table on the patio on a Sunday morning, once they have compiled all their pictures. Cy will fill out and turn in the Memorial Request Form to request money to cover lodging.

Total dollars spent: $880.

600 lodging, 220 van, 60 gas, (airfare paid by volunteers)

Total hours of service worked: 166 hours volunteered

“Wages” - $5.30/hour

4. Day of Service: Weekend of May 31- June 1. The committee chose a project at the mobile home park in Camarillo. Erik shared video clip last Sunday and took signups on the patio. We have 25 people signed up so far. We want to call and remind the volunteers the week before. Erik was going to catch up with Gordon on what the projects are going to be, so we can bring the right tools, etc… The committee will provide lunch on the patio after third service; bread, cold cuts, cheese, chips, drinks, peanut butter and jelly (with a free will offering). We will then have a blessing for the work, and get to it!

5. Future fundraiser – cloth shopping bags. Melissa brought in the Henry’s favorite shopping bag – and found a few options on the web that would fit that size. We discussed options, and decided to go with 15oz natural color bags, with logo on one side, in one color ink. We also discussed charging $10 per bag to make this a fundraiser. May say, “Mount Cross Lutheran church – Caring for God’s creation!” Members are to think if we can make this any catchier by the next meeting. Bob and Gordon offered to provide seed money for this project.

6. Make It Bake It funds - $500 from the MIBI has been earmarked to go to Slidell with our volunteers to help defray costs. Still no decision from council on this issue.

7. St. Columba’s Food Pantry: No new information at this time.

8. Coffee Sale at Earth Day: “Food Faith Farming” took place 4/26 at North Oxnard United Methodist Church. Gordon and Melissa attended and sold Fair Trade Coffee. They got tons of information and had a lovely meal. They also sold about $220. Spoke to the sponsors about making this an annual event, as it was a lovely day.

9. CROP Walk Update: Final totals are in! $22,536 raised at Camarillo walk, with 183 walkers. Mount Cross raised $1900 with 22 walkers. The citywide group still needs a volunteer to serve as treasurer, and a host church for next year’s walk.

10. Food Share Youth Work Day in Summer – Committee discussed perhaps making Food Share our focus for the summer, during June and July, when donations are usually down. Erik will look at calendar to schedule a project day for the jr/sr high groups to go and sort food. Erik suggested doing a “glean” of Mount Cross members fruit trees, since youth are too young to glean in the fields for Food Share (and they are trying to provide more fresh fruits, etc.). It was also suggested that we advertised 2 weeks ahead to encourage congregation to donate canned food or money, to get them involved.

11. ACS – Relay for Life: this will be our focus for September and October. Do not have a date yet, but Cy will call Sharon Korzan and ask if she will be the coordinator again. He will also ask her what support she would like from the committee, and when she would like to start her advertising push. We would like to see a more unified team of youth and adult walkers.

12. Habitat Work Day: Gordon will check days and schedule a Mount Cross day on the Simi Valley site. He will also check rules for age of volunteers, and possibly find a way to have the youth help, perhaps by providing help with lunch prep and serving. Gordon will also write an advertisement for the newsletter to encourage people to attend the Father/Child work day on the Saturday before Father’s Day.

13. Recent Disasters: It was brought up that our committee might need to take the lead on making sure that all the recent disaster areas are kept in the newsletters, and in our prayers on Sundays. Perhaps we need to look into Lutheran organizations for support – such as LWR, LDR, and Direct Relief (of Santa Barbara) – and encourage our congregants to use these organizations to support the relief effort needed around the globe. Also, we could have China Venture Services come and talk at Mount Cross.

14. Blood Drive: We have a blood drive scheduled for June 22^nd. Kevin Churchill is in charge of gathering volunteers.

15. Chair and Secretary Position Melissa volunteered to write up minutes and get them to Marilyn. Gordon volunteered to serve as lead for next meeting and write up an agenda.

12. Next meeting will be held on June 9th, 7:30 pm at Mount Cross. (NOTE: not the first Monday, but the second, due to conflict with another committee meeting. Also, we agreed to end the meeting at 9pm, regardless of what is left to discuss.)

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 4/7/2008 Committee Meeting

Present: Cy Johnson, Mary Goodenough, Gordon and Melissa Henry, Pastor Erik, Pat Gallagher, Bob Boyer

Our Mission:

1. Special presentation from Karen Nelson and Steve Armatage (representative from CI) on Compassion International. Spoke of hosting a compassion Sunday to encourage Mount Cross members to sponsor a child. Decided as a committee we need to take this to the pastors and discuss it with them. Our thanks to them for presenting.

2. Minutes from 3/3/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.

3. Tijuana Servant Trip: Had 13 volunteers. Built two shelters, almost to completion. Got rain on Saturday night and left to come home after breakfast on Sunday without going back to job sites. Still, it was a very successful trip. Group worked well together, families were excited. We missed the house dedication/key ceremony due to the rain, which was a disappointment. Pat had collected deposits from every volunteer except the Henrys and Bruce Wilcox. Mary collected more money than we spent on food, so there should be some left in the account (Melissa will check totals).

Discussion on whether to host one house or two for next year, due to low volunteer turnout, and expense. Will decide as we approach build next year.

4. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: Sold almost $260 on April 6. Need to place an order, which Melissa will do at committee’s approval. Melissa will not be in town for the next sale, and has asked Nora Wall to host. Next sale May 3.

5. Servant Trip to Slidell: May 3- May 10. Have 4 volunteers, and bought plane tickets. Mary will be doing some checking on using memorial funds to help defray costs to volunteers. Did have $500 earmarked from MIBI funds to help cover rental car and room/board costs. We will know after Saturday how much of that we get.

6. Day of Service: Weekend of May 31- June 1. Erik shared video clip. Committee discussed planning the service activity on Sunday, due to schedule conflicts on Saturday, and also to wear work clothes to church – and leave sanctuary to “go forth and serve”. Every committee member is to review the work list by next meeting and pick a few projects that sound interesting. We agreed to discuss projects via email and choose one BEFORE the next meeting. www.actionvc.org Erik will try and print a new copy of the work list, and will contact hosts about worship possibilities on Sunday morning. We discussed choosing a project that did not involve construction such as yard work, or organizing, etc.., to perhaps draw in some new people eager to serve.

7. LSS Donation Barrel: Melissa contacted LSS representative to get the list. She has not heard back. We agreed to table this mission until further contact from LSS.

8. Bread for a Hungry World Conference: Erik took 6 youth. They participated in a re-creation of different living situation around the globe, and in a drum circle with Jon Vevia. Erik reported that all had fun, and learned as well.

9. Future fundraiser – cloth shopping bags. We want to keep this on hand for the future. Melissa will check and see about sizes and prices, based on information given to her by Erik last month.

10. Make It Bake It funds - $500 from the MIBI has been earmarked to go to Slidell with our volunteers to help defray costs. We will know an exact figure after Saturday night.

11. Thrivent Funds left - $600 in Care in Congregations to be used by end of year. Erik suggested using MIBI, to get the money to go to Slidell. There are requirements for advertising, and it is late to get that, and Melissa and Gordon both feel the money could be better used AT Mount Cross for a project. We have lots of time to access this money.

12. Coffee Sale at Earth Day: Melissa passed out flyers for an event titled “Food Faith Farming” taking place 4/26 at North Oxnard United Methodist Church. We have been asked to participate by hosting a resource table for information about Equal Exchange products, and will be allowed to sell coffee. Committee supported the idea, as well as advertising for the event at Mount Cross, in the newsletter, email, and kiosk. Gordon and Melissa volunteered to staff the table.

13. Chair and Secretary Position Melissa volunteered to write up minutes and get them to Marilyn. Pat volunteered to serve as lead for next meeting and write up an agenda.

12. Next meeting will be held on May 12th, 7:30 pm at Mount Cross. (NOTE: not the first Monday, but the second, due to the mission trip to Slidell AND a time change to better accommodate schedules. Also, we agreed to end the meeting at 9pm, regardless of what is left to discuss.)

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 3/3/2008 Committee Meeting

Present: Cy Johnson, Mary Goodenough, Gordon and Melissa Henry, Pastor Erik, Pat Gallagher

Absent: Char Wall

Welcome new member Bob Boyer!

Our Mission:

1. Minutes from 2/11/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2. Tijuana Servant Trip: Have 19 volunteers. Check has been mailed to cover 2 houses. Cost is $3200, $1000 from designated funds, the rest from our budget. $25/per person registration fee covers $12/night lodging at the mission center. Pat will be emailing crew about the registration fee and to send out permission slips/ volunteer forms, etc.. Melissa will help gather food/cash donation from church members to cover cost of feeding the crew. Mary will take signups on the patio Sunday, March 9. Melissa will get info to Marilyn to get in the bulletin, Friday email, etc.. Pat will be working on carpooling.

3. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: Sold almost $250 on March 2. Melissa is making an information binder to have on the table with the product. Committee decided to raise prices by $.25 – bringing coffee to $6.25 and chocolate bars to $2.50, as current prices are just breaking even. This will give us a little money to cover tastings, any damage, etc. Did update the newletter info, but need to update the bulletin, including more facts about the benefits of buying and drinking this coffee. Next sale April 6.

4. CROP Walk: 25^th anniversary, starting at City Hall at 12:30 (registration) 1:15 (walk), hosted by Padre Serra. Gordon will be setting up a table at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, March 8, Bob will join him and help pass out info. Gordon and Cy will set up the course. Bob and Joan Brundage have volunteered to staff the registration table, and John Pitsch has volunteered to serve as a crossing guard. We currently have 14 walkers. Gordon has a small quantity of T-shirts and can order more (new design this year).

5. Servant Trip to Slidell: May 3- May 10 – Note new dates. Have set a goal of 10 volunteers. Currently have 4. Concerned that the cost to volunteers may be prohibitive to some. Want to do some fundraising - perhaps selling light bulbs – “Let your light shine” suggested $5 each for compact fluorescents – donated by Gordon. Or asking for sponsors. Mary will be doing some checking on using memorial funds to help defray costs to volunteers. Gordon will get new info to Marilyn for next newsletter.

6. Blood Drive: was March 2. Gordon will contact Kevin to find out how many pints were donated.

7. Day of Service: Weekend of May 31- June 1. Erik has video clip to share with us next meeting, possibly to play in church? Committee discussed planning the service activity on Sunday, due to schedule conflicts on Saturday, and also to wear work clothes to church – and leave sanctuary to “go forth and serve”. Every committee member is to review the work list by next meeting and pick a few projects that sound interesting. www.actionvc.org (Erik has a hard copy if members need it.) We discussed choosing a project that did not involve construction such as yard work, or organizing, etc.., to perhaps draw in some new people eager to serve. Project will be chosen at our next meeting.

8. LSS Donation Barrel: Char was not present to discuss. Gordon will contact her.

9. Review Time and Talent: Cy passed out copies of Time and Talent Volunteers list to all members present. Please use to contact people who have expressed interest in certain activities.

10. Other Business : Erik passed out a flyer for the Bread for a Hungry World Conference, and is taking some youth in the church van (still has seats available for any committee member who wants to ride along).

Melissa brought up an idea for a fundraiser – cloth bags with Mount Cross logo. Erik had some research on it, so this is something to keep in mind for the future, perhaps for the youth when they travel to LA for conference next summer.

11. Chair and Secretary Position – Welcome again to Bob Boyer, new member. Gordon volunteered to write up minutes and get them to Marilyn. Mary volunteered to serve as lead for next meeting and write up an agenda.

12. Next meeting will be held on April 7th, 7 pm at Mount Cross.

Mount Cross Lutheran Church Service and Missions Committee

Minutes of 2/11/2008 Committee Meeting

Held at the home of Gordon and Melissa Henry

Present: Cy Johnson, Char Wall, Mary Goodenough, Gordon and Melissa Henry

Absent: Pastor Erik, Pat Gallagher

Our Mission:

1. Minutes from 1/7/2008 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2. Day of Service: Weekend of May 31- June 1. Pastor Erik was absent from this meeting, but should have more info for us at the next meeting.

3. Fair Trade Coffee Sale: events to continue the first Sunday of each month

The sale on Feb. 3 was small, but it was a rainy day and Teen Challenge was there. Melissa placed an order for more decaf and chocolate. Melissa also ordered more materials, and would like to make a tripod sign to put out on sale Sundays. Also, need to update the newsletter info, including more facts about the benefits of buying and drinking this coffee. Next sale March 2.

4. CROP Walk: 25^th anniversary, starting at City Hall at 12:30 (registration) 1:15 (walk), hosted by Padre Serra. Mt Cross needs to provide 2 crossing guards. Signups began last Sun. Organization needs a new treasurer – any volunteers?

5. Servant Trip to Slidell: April 26 – May 3 Have set a goal of 10 volunteers. Want to do a fundraiser of selling light bulbs – “Let your light shine” suggested $5 each for compact fluorescents – donated by Gordon. Or asking for sponsors. Gordon will get new info to Marilyn for next newsletter.

6. Tijuana Servant Trip: Need more signups, have 8 so far. Pat was absent from this meeting. Gordon will contact Pat to get a meeting date for a planning meeting – must be in to Marilyn before Friday, Feb. 15 to make March calendar mailing. Recognizing that any fundraiser will compete with the need to raise money for the roof repair and considering the Service and Mission budget, the Committee will consider building one rather than two homes in Tijuana.

7. Blood Drive: March 2. Cy will contact Kevin to see if he needs any help.

8. Review Time and Talent: Both Bob Boyer and Josh Graziani will be contacted by Cy to see if they would like to join.

9. Chair and Secretary Position: Have chosen to rotate the position from month to month until a new chair and secretary are found. Gordon volunteered to chair the next meeting, Melissa volunteered to write up the minutes. Perhaps Josh will be our liaison to council?

10. Reviewed Mission Statement: Modified it but need to bring our focus back to it, and apply it to our projects. Make sure we are reaching all 3 areas of our goals.

11. LSS donation barrel: Char will contact Brenda Byers to get a list of current needs, coordinate write-ups for the bulletin, and see if she can arrange someone to pick up directly from the church.

12. St. Columba’s Food Pantry: Mary will contact Charlene and see if she needs any help from the committee at this time.

13. Next meeting will be held on March 3^rd, 7 pm at Mount Cross.

Mount Cross Lutheran Church

Service and Mission Committee

Minutes of 1/7/08 Committee Meeting

Present: Pastor Erik, Kevin Churchill, Pat Gallagher, Char Wall and Cy Johnson

Absent: Gordon and Melissa Henry, Mary Goodenough

Reports and Old Business:

1) Minutes of 12/3/07 meeting were reviewed and approved.

2) Fair Trade Coffee Tasting: it was agreed that the sales events will continue on the first Sunday of each month. Having missed the intended sale on January 6th, the next sale will be February 3^rd, 2008.

3) Servant Trip to Slidell: A renewed recruiting drive will be undertaken with the intent of scheduling a trip beginning on the last weekend of April, 2008. The Henrys were not available to report on progress.

4) Relay for Life (American Cancer Society): Kevin Churchill reported that Sharon Korzan felt very positive about her experience organizing the Mount Cross participants and that she is likely to do so again next year.

5) Tijuana Servant Trip: The trip will be on March 28-30, 2008. Notes for the Grapevine and bulletin were discussed and sign-ups will begin immediately. Pat and Pastor Erik will make a presentation to the Youth on the last Sunday in January. This year the volunteers will be at El Divino Salvador, nearer downtown Tijuana. Volunteers will be asked to contribute a $25.00 non-refundable deposit at sign-up. We understand that the cost per-house this year is $1,600 and two are planned.

6) Hickory House Christmas Party: Thank you to Mary Goodenough (in absentia) for her work organizing this year’s gifts and event.

7) LSS Angel Project: Thank you to Char Wall and the Henrys for a very successful effort at Christmas. Donated school supplies allowed siblings of those receiving gifts to receive a gift as well, and these were very well received and appreciated.

New Business:

1) A general discussion of the goals and projects for the coming year brought new ideas to consider and reaffirmed existing plans. The Committee agreed that it would be easy and effective to join in the Day of Service event this spring. Pastor Erik will check on dates and the array of possible target projects. Habitat is starting a project in Simi Valley and volunteers are welcome there.

2) The Committee’s planning calendar is complete through March of 2008. The Chair asked for corrections and further dates to add.

3) The Chair expressed his desire to step down and invited nominations/volunteers to be Chair for 2008. Members will consider it.

4) The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 4^th.

Adjournment and prayer offered by Pastor Erik.

Respectfully Submitted, Cy Johnson

Mount Cross Lutheran Church

Service and Mission Committee

Minutes of 11/12/07 Committee Meeting

Present: Pastor Erik, Mary Goodenough, Melissa Henry, Gordon Henry and Cy Johnson

Absent: Kevin Churchill, Pat Gallagher and Char Wall

After a brief devotion and prayer, the meeting came to order at 7:00 p.m.

Reports and Old Business:

8) Minutes of the 9/18/07 meeting were reviewed and approved.

9) Fair Trade Coffee Tasting: Better recordkeeping to track receipts and assure that any surplus is sent to Lutheran World Relief was discussed. Pastor Erik noted that a new designated fund titled Fair Trade has been added to the balance sheet. The next sales will be December second and January sixth, 2008.

10) Servant Trip to Slidell (January 2008): Gordon and Melissa Henry will lead the trip. As of this date it appears there are seven interested volunteers. Attractive airline fares are available.

11) Relay for Life (American Cancer Society): Thank you to Sharon Korzan and Kevin Churchill for organizing the 2007 Team. Kevin Churchill was not available to recap the event.

12) Blood Drive: Kevin Churchill had previously reported that sixteen units were donated, a very successful effort. Thank you to all donors.

13) Flu Shot Clinic: Thank you to Gail Baird, Joan Brundage and Bob Brundage for carrying out the event.

14) African Craft Sales: Char Wall was not available to report on sales.

15) Finalize date of Tijuana trip June 22^nd or June 29^th: The date remains undetermined after a discussion of alternative dates and Pat Gallagher’s June Commitments. Cy Johnson will check on passport rule for 2008.

16) Plan Hickory House Christmas party: Mary Goodenough reported that the party will be held on December 18^th. This year gifts for residents will be simpler to purchase since they will simply be gift cards.

17) Make It Bake It Fund Requests: After discussion, members agreed to pass all requests for Make It Bake It funds to Council. The conflict of interest resulting from Service and Mission making funding recommendations when its own requests compete with others was noted.

18) Fund raiser for military families: Mary Goodenough reported that over $400 was donated by members at the No Bake Bake Sale. $300 will be matched by Thrivent, bringing the total to over $700 available to help with holiday food.