����������CONGREGATIONAL �MEETING�

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January 29, 2023

Agenda

• Opening prayer – Pastor Nick
• Approval of Minutes – Jonathan Kraatz
• Election of Voting Members for Synod Assembly– Jonathan Kraatz
• 2021-22 Fiscal Year Treasurer’s Report – Jim Berg
• Finance Update – Jim Berg
• Mission Freedom Update – Jim Berg
• Committee and Ministry Review – Jonathan Kraatz
• Pastor’s Report – Pastor Nick
• General Discussion – Jonathan & Pastor Nick
• Closing of Congregational Meeting – Jonathan Kraatz
• Closing Prayer – Pastor Nick

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Opening Prayer

Approval of Minutes

• Motion to approve the minutes from our

June 2022 Congregational Meeting.

Election of Voting Members�for Synod Assembly

• We are allowed to send 2 voting delegates to the Synod Assembly on April 28 & 29, 2023 in Shreveport, LA.
• The two members up for election as delegates:
• Volunteers still needed
• Motion to accept the candidates to represent AGLC at the NTNL Synod Assembly.

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 2022 �(Ending June 2022)

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• Total Receipts $481,454

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• Total Expenses ($455,155)

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• Net $26,299

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Operating Fund Actual

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 2022 �(Ending June 2022)

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• Total Receipts $187,683

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• Total Expenses ($122,152)

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• Net $65,531

Capital Fund

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 2022 �(Ending June 2022)

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• Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report

for Fiscal Year 2022.

Finance Update�Operating Account July 21 through Dec 22

Current Year

Receipts $296,429

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Expenses ($277,990)

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Net change $18,438

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Prior Year (Dec 2021)

Receipts $301,143*

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Expenses ($225,562)

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Net Change $75,580*

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*Includes $18,000 designated for the Endowment Fund

Finance Update�Capital Account July 21 through Dec 22

Current Year

Receipts $97,242

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Expenses ($59,614)

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Net change $37,627

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Prior Year (Dec 2021)

Receipts $104,929

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Expenses ($68,283)

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Net Change $36,645

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Balances as of 12/31/2022

Cash:

• Operating: $179,461
• Capital: $111,206*

* Doesn’t include $39,562 deposited in January for December activity

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• Assets: $2,363,127
• Liabilities: $902,104

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Mission Freedom Capital Campaign Update

• Initial pledges of $686,163 made in December 2019
• Total pledges to date: $714,783
• Funds are used to make monthly mortgage payment and to pay down mortgage principal (also includes numerous capital expenses)
• Campaign ran through December 2022
• Timing coincided with refinance of our property
• Through 12/31/2022, we have received $625,867, representing 87.6% of total
• Originally reported $651,597, but this included $25,730.80 in memorial funds specifically designated for the playground

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MIF Loan Status

Mission Investment Fund Loan Details

• Amount $1,300,000
• First Payment 1/1/2018
• Total Monthly Payment $8,978
• Interest Rate 3%
• Maturity Date 12/2022
• 12/31/2022 Balance $842,362*

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*Mortgage Balance on 12/31/2021: $918,978

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Revised MIF Loan Status

Mission Investment Fund Loan Details

• Amount $842,362
• First Payment 9/1/2022
• Total Monthly Payment $6,271*
• Interest Rate 4.625%
• Rate Lock 10 years
• Maturity Date 8/2037
• 12/31/2022 Balance $842,362**

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*Lower payment started 1/1/2023

**Does not include additional principal buy-down in January 2023 of $120,000, reducing balance to $722,362

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2021-2022 Audit Committee Results

• Thank you to Committee Members -- David Klym, Gary Bowker, Mike McTaggart, and Bob Kruzel
• Followed ELCA recommended procedure for internal financial audit
• Looked at 25 of the 34 suggested areas
• Recommended some procedural updates in several areas, which are being implemented

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����������COMMITTEE �REPORTS�

Outreach Committee 2022 Highlights

ELCA Hunger Grant

• Partnership with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church –Irving
• $30,000 over 3 year period (maximum award)

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GRACE Transition Unit

• Hosted Open House in May
• New resident as of December 20, 2022

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God’s Work Our Hands Sunday

• Carter Bloodcare Drive
• Humane Society of North Texas (collected items and volunteered with pets at shelter)
• Ronald McDonald House (served dinner to families whose children receiving care at Cook’s Children Hospital)
• GRACE Transition Unit – cleaned and updated unit

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Lent 40 Days of Giving

• Provided 40 Days of Giving resources to members to collect coins/money for hunger relief
• Co-facilitated Lenten Dinner Devotions with Vicar Christine to learn more about hunger relief efforts
• Provided opportunities for members to help with local hunger relief efforts including lunch bag assembly for Presbyterian Night Shelter clients

Outreach Committee 2022 Highlights

Love Your Neighbor Service Projects

• Presbyterian Night Shelter – made and assembled lunch bags for homeless
• Feed Our Kids – prepared 315 meals for children at GRACE Scribner site
• EA Young Academy – provided water to families at Meet the Teacher and treated teachers to breakfast
• Boo Bingo at Harbor Chase –hosted bingo game and handed out prize bags to residents
• Thanksgiving Feast at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Irving
• Monthly Community Breakfasts (last Saturday of each month) at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – Irving�

Donation Drives:

• School Supply Drive for San Gabriel youth
• Thanksgiving Baskets for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Thanksgiving Feast
• GRACE Oil Drive
• Carter Blood Drive
• Angel Tree Gifts for San Gabriel Lutheran Church

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Outreach Committee 2023 Previews

Immediate Need:

• People to serve on the ELCA Hunger Grant Committee – committee will be made up of people from both Good Shepherd and Abiding Grace
• First committee meeting will be lunch on Sunday February 26

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Upcoming Events:

• Participation in ELCA Hunger Grant opportunities – education and service
• February 10 – Women’s Pajama Party to benefit women at Safe Haven
• Lent – 40 Days of Giving (devotions and hunger relief efforts)
• April 23 – Great Day of Service (meal kits for local organization – TBA)
• May 7 – Help plant flowers at GRACE Transition in celebration of Mother’s Day (May 14)
• June 6-10 Feed Our Kids

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Worship & Music Committee Report 2022

Altar Guild

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Altar Guild sets up and takes down all communion elements for every worship service where communion is served.�

• 27 Holy Communion meals were prepared & put away�
• 7 times Banners & paraments were changed for seasons of the church year�
• Decorations were put up for the Christmas season. Then taken down & packed away�
• Working smarter: We streamlined the process for ordering supplies�
• We moved to gluten-free bread as the new standard

Music

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Music plays an integral role in our Worship experience.�

• Choir and Bell Choir resumed weekly rehearsals in September 2022�
• The Choir presented a beautiful Christmas Cantata with an Orchestra�
• We have special music at every service�
• Familiar Music Director returned�
• New pianist/organist was hired

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Investing in our Worship experience:

• Purchased a new grand piano
• Purchased new sound equipment
• Purchased new handbell foam & covers
• Received a new organ (donation)
• Purchased new Altar linens

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Worship & Music Committee Preview 2023

The Worship & Music committee will continue to provide support to enhance the worship experience at Abiding Grace.�

• Planning: Ash Wednesday (February 22) plus weekly Lenten Services, Palm Sunday (April 2), Decorate Sanctuary for Easter Saturday April 8 10:00am, Easter Sunday (April 9)�

Altar Guild

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Altar Guild sets up and takes down all communion elements for every worship service where communion is served.�

• 27 Holy Communion meals will be prepared & put away�
• Banners & paraments will be changed 12 times for seasons of the church year�
• Decorations were put up for the Easter season. Then taken down & packed away�
• Working smarter: Palms have been ordered, researching the décor options for Easter, continued storage reorganization �

Music

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Music plays an integral role in our Worship experience.�

• Choir, Bell Choir, and Praise Team will continue weekly rehearsals�
• The Music Team will present a beautiful Easter Cantata�
• Special music will continue at every service�
• Vanessa and Lift Every Voice Choir have been invited to participate in a concert at Carnegie Hall in NYC – November 2023

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Investing in our Worship experience:

• Purchased climate control system to protects new piano
• Purchase Baptism Elements
• Purchase additional Altar linens

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Fellowship Committee 2022 Highlights

2022 WINTER/SPRING EVENTS

1/6 Young at Heart Lunch Club

1/8 AGLC Men’s Breakfast – 1^st Saturday monthly

2/12 Abiding Dudes Super Bowl Brisket Fundraiser

2/20 A Time to AGLC Gather mid-service brunch� Fellowship, weekly through 4/18

3/2 Wednesday Lenten Suppers weekly from Ash Wed. � through 4/6

3/26 Friday Family Movie Night

4/2 Saturday Men’s Group Hang-out at Pete Marquart’s

4/16 Abiding Dudes Easter Smoked hams and ribs

4/23 Saturday Men’s Meet-up at Paul Harrington’s

4/30 Annual Women’s Mother’s Day Brunch

5/21 Friday Family Movie Night

5/29 Sunday Recognition of Graduating Seniors

SUMMER EVENTS

6/5 Sunday Organization Anniversary

7/9 Saturday Men’s Group Hang-out with Brian Michel at VFW

7/18 Sunday First Worship-in-the-Park Anniversary

8/26 Abiding Dudes cook for Good Shepherd

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Fellowship Committee 2022 Highlights

FALL EVENTS

9/17 Women’s Saturday Fellowship w/ Vicar Christine, monthly

9/17 Men’s Group Hang-out at AGLC

9/18 Sunday Lunch and Cornhole Tournament

10/14 Friday Golf Outing

10/16 Annual Fall Picnic after service – Abiding Dudes cooking

10/21 Young Adult Gathering

11/19 Abiding Dudes Cooking turkeys for Thanksgiving

11/19 Men’s Group Hang-out at AGLC

11/20 Pie Sunday

11/30 Wednesday night Advent meal – weekly before service� though 12/21

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WINTER EVENTS

12/4 Young adult Gathering Brunch

12/4 Abiding Dudes smoking hams & turkeys for Advent dinner

12/4 Advent Dinner and Variety Show

Fellowship Committee 2023 Preview

2023 WINTER/SPRING EVENTS

1/7 AGLC Men’s Breakfast – 1^st Saturday monthly

1/14 Women’s Saturday Fellowship w/ Vicar Christine, monthly on designated Saturday

1/21 Saturday Chili Cookoff & Dinner

2/11 Abiding Dudes Super Bowl Brisket Fundraiser

2/18 Ladies Sweetheart Brunch & Secret Sister Reveal

2/22 Ash Wednesday Annual Soup Supper

3/200 Wednesday Lenten Suppers weekly from 3/1 through 4/5

4/8 Abiding Dudes Easter Smoking hams and ribs

5/13 Annual Women’s Mother’s Day Brunch

5/? Sunday Recognition of Graduating Seniors�

SUMMER EVENTS

6/4 Sunday Organization Anniversary

7/16 Sunday First Worship-in-the-Park Anniversary

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FALL EVENTS

10/?? Annual Fall Picnic after service – Abiding Dudes cooking

11/18 Abiding Dudes Cooking turkeys for Thanksgiving

11/26 Pie Sunday

11/29 Wednesday night Advent meal – weekly before service though 12/20�

WINTER EVENTS

12/2 Abiding Dudes smoking hams & turkeys for Advent dinner

12/3 Advent Dinner and Variety Show �

EVENTS TO BE SCHEDULED/HELD DURING YEAR

Young at Heart Gatherings

Young Adult Gatherings

Family Movies or Game Nights

Quarterly Men’s Group Hang-outs

Abiding Dudes Cooking Events

Golf Outings

Suppers for Six 

Fellowship Committee 2023 Preview

FALL EVENTS

9/17 Women’s Saturday Fellowship w/ Vicar Christine, monthly

9/17 Men’s Group Hang-out at AGLC

9/18 Sunday Lunch and Cornhole Tournament

10/14 Friday Golf Outing

10/16 Annual Fall Picnic after service – Abiding Dudes cooking

10/21 Young Adult Gathering

11/19 Abiding Dudes Cooking turkeys for Thanksgiving

11/19 Men’s Group Hang-out at AGLC

11/20 Pie Sunday

11/30 Wednesday night Advent meal – weekly before service� though 12/21

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WINTER EVENTS

12/4 Young adult Gathering Brunch

12/4 Abiding Dudes smoking hams & turkeys for Advent dinner

12/4 Advent Dinner and Variety Show

Stewardship Committee 2022 Highlights

• Successful Completion of Mission Freedom Campaign – achieving 92% of pledged amounts
• Enhanced online giving
• Encouraged and obtained additional volunteer participation in Sunday Services
• Created Endowment Founders recognition and continued build the Abiding Grace Lutheran Endowment Fund
• Added 4 new members to the Stewardship Committee

Stewardship Committee 2023 Objectives

• Growth in Church membership and participation
• Successful Stewardship Campaign
• Continue to support and grow the endowment fund
• Invite new members to the committee

OUR PROPERTY:

• 4 buildings
• 11 bathrooms
• Approx 9000 sq. ft.
• 5 acres
• 120 trees

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Southlake 1965

Property Committee Report �January – December 2022 (plus a little more)

Projects

�April, June and October workdays had great responses

�Locks replaced in all buildings but the Sanctuary

�Chivas Graveyard renovation

�Youth building toilet renovations

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Youth building ramp renovation

�Youth building light fixtures updated

�Nursery floor replaced

�Removed mistletoe and trimmed trees

�Organize storage and remove unused inventory

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Property Committee Report �January – December 2022 (plus a little more)

Maintenance

�Repaired yard lights

�Removed dead pine tree

�Repaired Sanctuary can lights

�Resolved Fire Marshall findings

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�Updated the heart defibrillators

�Repaired toilets

�Removed pests (skunk, raccoon, armadillo, rat)

Property Committee Report 2022

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Process Improvements

�Project approval form

�Gardening team

�Lawn volunteer team

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Plus More:

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2 Bathrooms in Office Building Connected to Sewer via Grinder Pump. Removed from Septic.

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Education Building Septic Pumped.

Property Committee Report 2022

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Finally, please contact anyone on the committee if you see a need around the property and/or want to participate in helping keep our property in tip top shape.

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Thanks to everyone that has participated on the property committee, as well as, everyone that has helped keep our property in excellent condition.

Property Committee Report 2022

Member Care 2022 Highlights

New Member Sundays

• May – Four new families
• November – Four new families

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Stephen Ministry

• Pray with and for people in time of crisis
• Members faithfully listen, empathize, encourage and pray for people in times of crisis
• AGLC has 13 members that are trained Stephen Ministers, three who are leaders: Linda Neal, David Klym, and Kim Haggerty

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Encouragement Ministry

• Send cards/drop off gifts to homebound members

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Member Care 2022 Highlights

Prayer Chain

• Kim Saunders manages prayer chain

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Meals

• As needs arise, committee sets up meal trains for people going through difficult times

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Senior Sunday

• Recognized and honored 9 graduating seniors

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College Care Packages

• Quarterly, send encouragement cards/gift cards to approximately 15 AGLC college students

Member Care 2023 Highlights

New Chair: Marie Klym

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Goals:

1. Encourage more members to join the Member Care Committee
2. Explore more ideas for offering member care

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Next Member Care Committee

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When: Sunday, February 5^th before service at 9:00am

Where: In the sanctuary at table close to the choir room

Personnel Committee Highlights

New Chair: Marie Klym

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Goals:

1. Encourage more members to join the Member Care Committee
2. Explore more ideas for offering member care

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Next Member Care Committee

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When: Sunday, February 5^th before service at 9:00am

Where: In the sanctuary at table close to the choir room

STARTED THE YEAR WITH PASTOR NICK, VICOR CHRISTINE AND SARA IN THE OFFICE…SUSIE ON PIANO, AND ROGER ON THE ORGAN. ROGER RETIRED IN APRIL AFTER 5 YEARS.

JAN

JUL

FEB-MAR

APR-MAY

JUN

UPDATED FORMS & ISSUED W-2’S

COMPLIANCE

KYLE JOINED THE STAFF

7/17/22

FAM & YOUTH DIRECTOR

UPDATED JOB DESCRIPTIONS

FORMED COMMITTEES TO HIRE OPEN POSITIONS

FAM & YOUTH DIR

MUSIC DIR

SEARCH & INTERVIEW

VANESSA REJOINED THE STAFF

6/6/22

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MUSIC DIRECTOR

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Personnel Committee Highlights

THE REST OF 2022 …NEW PROGRAMS, NEW STAFF AND RETIRING STAFF…

JUL-AUG

DEC

SEP

OCT-NOV

DEC

SUMMER TIME

&

PLANNING TIME

SUSIE RETIRES-YET AGAIN

12/30/22

ORGANIST-PIANIST

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RTN TO REGULAR SCHEDULE

BACK TO SCHOOL

REVIEWED AUDITED AND COMPLETED

BENEFITS ENROLLMENT

ALTYNAY JOINS THE STAFF

12/7/22

ORGANIST-PIANIST

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28.01.2023

Personnel Committee Highlights

• Compliance Completed for 2022 & W-2s Issued for staff
• Hiring Committee Formation to fill open positions as needed

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If you are interested in joining a Hiring Committee, Processing Payroll or Staff Benefits please let us know. We would be happy to have you join us.

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28.01.2023

Personnel Committee 2023

Pastor’s Report

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2022 was a rollercoaster ride!

• The important things: Weddings, Funerals, and Baptisms
• Other important things:
• Refinance completed
• Capital campaign concluded

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Staff Update:

• We did some hiring in 2022!
• Have more hiring to do
• Internship officially begins

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Pastor’s Report

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Goals for 2023

• Increased participation by the congregation across all ministries
• A deeper understanding and desire to follow Jesus
• Growth in membership

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Pastor’s Report

The Plan

• Invite, invite, invite
• There is great power in a personal invitation
• Make AGLC a place where people feel at home
• Hospitality and Sunday Morning Worship
• Ministries

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Pastor’s Report

Plan (continued)

• Discipleship
• Living the Gospel
• Bible study, serving
• Endowment Fund
• More inviters

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General Discussion

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• Any additional old business?

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• Any new business?

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• Motion to adjourn.

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• Closing prayer.