����������CONGREGATIONAL �MEETING�

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January 28, 2024

Agenda

• Opening prayer – Pastor Nick
• Approval of Minutes – Jonathan Kraatz
• Election of Voting Members for Synod Assembly– Jonathan Kraatz
• 2022-23 Fiscal Year Treasurer’s Report – Jim Berg
• Finance Update – Craig Womeldorph
• 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 2023 Congregational Meeting.

Election of Voting Members�for Synod Assembly

• We are allowed to send 2 voting delegates to the Synod Assembly on April 19 & 20, 2024 in Irving, TX.
• The two members up for election as delegates:
• Lori Anderson
• Lisa Harrington
• Motion to accept the candidates to represent AGLC at the NTNL Synod Assembly.

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 2022/2023 �(Ending June 2023)

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• Total Receipts $539,321

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• Total Expenses $545,632

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• Net ($6,311)

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Operating Fund Actual

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 2022/2023 �(Ending June 2023)

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• Total Receipts $132,000

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• Total Expenses $224,740*

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• Net ($92,740)

Capital Fund

* Includes $120,000 principle buydown from Capital account

Treasurer’s Report Fiscal Year 2022/2023 �(Ending June 2023)

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• Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report

for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.

Finance Update�Operating Account July through Dec 2023

Current Year*

Receipts $288,242

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Expenses $299,003

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Net change ($7,286)

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Prior Year (Dec 2022)

Receipts $296,429

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Expenses $277,990

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Net Change $18,438

* Excludes $33,229 in pass-through receipts and expenses (ie – fundraisers, baseball game, youth gathering, youth retreat, choir trip, Mardi Grace, etc.; and Endowment receipts

Finance Update�Capital Account July through Dec 23

Current Year

Receipts $756,679

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Expenses $725,513

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Net change $31,166

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Prior Year (Dec 2022)

Receipts $97,242

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Expenses $59,614

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Net Change $37,627

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Finance Update�Endowment Fund through Dec 2023

Current Year

Receipts $12,193

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Expenses $0

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Net change $12,193

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Prior Year (Dec 2022)

Receipts $5,973

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Expenses $0

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Net Change $5,973

Balances as of 12/31/2023

Current Balance:

• Operating: $106,633
• Capital: $58,024*

* Doesn’t include $29,126 Mortgage Escrow refund

deposited in January

• Youth: $8,336
• Endowment: $43,012

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• Assets: $2,274,092
• Liabilities: $54,080

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����������COMMITTEE �REPORTS�

Outreach Committee 2023 Highlights

ELCA Hunger Grant

• Partnership with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church –Irving
• $30,000 over 3 year period (maximum award)
• Helped with Good Shepherd Feeding Ministries (community breakfasts last Saturday of the month, pantry help, and Thanksgiving community luncheon)
• Began partnering with Many Helping Hands to help host Thursday night dinners and learn more about their program

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GRACE Partnership

• We currently have one adopted unit - resident is successfully completing the program
• Help hosted GRACE Christmas party for families living in transitional housing
• Prepared and served 366 meals during Feed Our Kids week (June 5-9)
• We continued to collect oil for GRACE pantry

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Great Day of Service

• Hosted our 10th annual Great Day of Service
• 80 people signed up to help
• 6 projects: Youth Camp, Women in Stitches, Serving Our Seniors (2 sites), Many Helping Hands, Harbor Chase Assisted Living Center, GRACE Transitional Unit Garden and Sign

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Outreach Committee 2023 Highlights

Love Your Neighbor Service Projects

• Ladies Pajama Party For Safe Haven (victims of domestic abuse) - collected ladies pajamas to give to the ladies of Safe Haven
• Boo Bingo at Harbor Chase –hosted bingo game and handed out prize bags to residents

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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 2024 Goals

ELCA Hunger Grant

• Use funds this year to help build community garden at Good Shepherd to provide free, healthy produce to people in need
• Provide more support in terms of volunteer support to help support Good Shepherd Feeding Ministries - community breakfast, pantry help

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Great Day Of Service

• New Leader: Mark Williams
• Date: Saturday, May 4th

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Continue Partnership With GRACE

• Continue support for transitional unit housing program
• Continue collecting oil
• Continue serving with Feed Our Kids June 3-7
• Continue hosting special celebrations such as GRACE Christmas party for families in transitional housing

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Continue Partnership With Churches in our Synod

• San Gabriel - Back to School Bash, Angel Tree
• Good Shepherd - Feeding Ministries

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Outreach Committee 2024 Goals

Continue Other Partnerships

• Brave Special Olympics
• Safe Haven
• Carter Blood Care
• Harbor Chase Assisted Living Center
• Ronald McDonald House

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Look Into New Partnerships

• Animal Shelter
• Community Events

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God’s Work Our Hands

• September 8, 2024
• Focus on serving first responders in our community

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Worship & Music Committee Report 2023

Altar Guild

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• Altar Guild sets up and takes down all communion elements for every worship service where communion is served
• 60+ Holy Communion meals were prepared & put away
• 15 banner & parament changes for seasons of the church year
• Decorations were put up for the Christmas and Easter season, then taken down & packed away
• Working smarter: new process of ordering supplies is working well with assistance from the office manager
• Gluten-free bread as the new standard continued
• Welcomed two new altar guild members

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Investing in our Worship Experience

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• Regularly maintaining protecting our investment in the grand piano by using the climate control system - cost saving, not as many tunings per year
• Purchased new sound equipment
• Purchased new Altar linens

Music

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Music played an integral role in our Worship experience�

• Lift Every Voice Choir, Grace Notes Bell Choir, and Praise Ensemble participated in weekly rehearsals throughout the fall and spring
• Choir presented a seven movement Christmas Cantata with a wind ensemble and narrators
• Special music is offered at every service
• Altinay has consistently provided quality piano and organ offerings
• Choir attendance increased by 10%
• Bell choir attendance increased by 17%
• Praise Ensemble attendance increased by 10%
• Lift Every Voice traveled to NYC and performed “Christmas Dreams” at Carnegie Hall - 12 singers
• A few Lift Every Voice members participated in Choirs Across Dallas, an ecumenical community singing event featuring distinguished choral clinicians

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Worship & Music Committee Preview 2024

Plans and Goals�

• Planning: Ash Wednesday plus weekly Lenten Services, Palm Sunday, Decorate Sanctuary for Easter Saturday April 8 10:00am, Easter Sunday
• W&M will focus on recruiting, training, and competency this year to provide a more supportive and welcoming environment, encouraging worshippers to take a more active role on Sundays
• W&M will host at least two training events following worship for volunteers to gain knowledge and experience
• W&M plans to publish written descriptions of all worship duties in the sanctuary, in collaboration with Jo Kruzel
• Sound Technicians will continue to train and hone their skills, increasing accessibility and intelligibility in worship�

Altar Guild

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• Volunteers are always needed for Altar Guild, please sign up!
• Toni Holte and Debbie Kelley will co-chair altar guild, many thanks to Claudia for her service as outgoing chair��

Music�

• Choir, Bell Choir, and Praise Team will continue weekly rehearsals
• Music Librarian(s) are needed to support organization and workflow in the music room - standard at most churches
• The music team will present Easter and Christmas Cantatas
• Special music will continue at every service
• Plan to participate again in Choirs Across Dallas and Greater Dallas Handbell Association conference, community church music events�

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Investing in our Worship experience

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• Purchase Baptism Elements
• Purchase additional Altar linens
• Bell Choir currently has more members than spots available - need to start planning for expanding the handbell set and tables

Fellowship Committee 2023/2024

2023/2024 ON-GOING FELLOWSHIP EVENTS

• AGLC Men’s Breakfast & Bible - 1^st Saturday monthly
• AGLC Ladies Breakfast & Scripture w/ Vicar Christine - Designated Saturday monthly
• Women In Stitches w/ Susie Henning - 2^nd & 4^th Thursdays monthly
• Saturday Men’s Group Hang-out - Quarterly
• Fellowship Committee Meeting - Monthly 2^nd Sunday
• Suppers for 6 - 9 Groups
• Friday Family Movie/Game Nights
• Young Adult Gatherings
• Young at Heart Gatherings
• Golf Outings
• Abiding Dudes Cooking Events

Fellowship Committee 2023 Highlights

2023 FELLOWSHIP EVENTS

9/10 Ministry Fair – New Interests: Book Club (non-Biblical), Walking Pals, All ages game nights, Bowling

9/18 Sunday Lunch and Cornhole Tournament

9/24 “Apple” Pie Sunday

10/13 WELCA Event

10/14 Friday Golf Outing

10/15 Fall Picnic – Abiding Dudes cook

11/18 Abiding Dudes Cooking turkeys for Thanksgiving

11/26 Thanksgiving Pie Sunday

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

12/3 Advent Dinner & Variety Show

Fellowship Committee 2024 Preview

2024 FELLOWSHIP EVENTS

1/20 Saturday Chili Cookoff & Dinner

2/10 Abiding Dudes Super Bowl Brisket Fundraiser

2/10 Ladies Sweetheart Brunch & Secret Sister Reveal

2/14 Ash Wednesday Annual Soup Supper

2/20 Wednesday Lenten Suppers weekly 2/20 through 3/20

3/30? Abiding Dudes Easter Smoking hams and ribs

5/11 Annual Women’s Mother’s Day Brunch

5/? Sunday Recognition of Graduating Seniors

6/2? Sunday Organization Anniversary

7/14? Sunday First Worship-in-the-Park Anniversary

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Stewardship Committee 2023 Highlights

• Endowment Fund up and running managed by Thrivent
• Estate Planning Seminars conducted with plans for future ones
• Mission Statement Refresh
• Time, Talent, and Treasure Refresh
• Emphasis on results from our giving and tithes

OUR PROPERTY:

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

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Property Committee Report �January – December 2023

WORKDAYS:

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• Easter workday 26 volunteers completed lawn, gardening and cemetery projects
• Fall workday 8 volunteers completed lawn, gardening and general cleanup

Building�

• Storage areas in the Sanctuary and Education building were organized and unneeded items donated to Grace. �
• The Education building porch was cleaned, prepped and painted by volunteers.�
• A volunteer replaced all the lights in the Youth building with LEDs.�
• Committee members brought in pest experts to remove the infestation in the Youth building.  Monitoring is ongoing.�
• Committee members inspected and attempted repairs to the Office kitchen. 

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• Property volunteers continued to support the Montessori school with repairs to septic systems, doors, sinks and other miscellaneous requests.�
• Committee members designed the kitchen makeover and supervised the completion.�
• The Wi-Fi system was expanded to include the Youth building.�
• Presented a proposal to tie down current electrical rates to the Council.�
• Addressed recommendations from Church Mutual insurance.

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Property Committee Report �

Grounds�

• 2 dead trees were removed and large dead limbs removed from 3rd tree �
• Volunteers completed extensive repairs on the riding mower, push mower, string trimmers, edgers and blowers.�
• Volunteers cleaned and maintained the Chivers cemetery in the woods behind the Church.��
• Plants were added to the base of the Church’s cross and watering adjusted accordingly.�
• Quotes were obtained for lawn and garden services for the property.  After review, we decided to include lawn services in the 2024-2025 budget submittal.�
• Volunteers cleaned and maintained the Chivers cemetery in the woods behind the Church.

Property Committee Report 2023

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The Committee obtained quotes of various projects submitted for review

and possible action:

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• Sanctuary lighting proposal
• Adding floating panels to the Sanctuary
• Youth building flooring upgrade
• Repair and replacement of building signage
• Resurfacing the Sanctuary floor
• Digging a well for lawn irrigation
• Adding permanent chairs where folding chairs are used in the Sanctuary
• Upgrades to the Office stair and second level

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• Created and forwarded a survey to determine which proposed projects to determine the Congregation’s interest.�
• Submitted an updated donation policy to the Council.�
• Developed a Property Policy and Procedure and submitted it to the Council

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Property Committee Report 2023

Member Care 2023 Highlights

New Member Sundays

• April – 21 new families
• October – 17 new families

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Stephen Ministry

• AGLC Stephen Ministry Leaders: Dave Klym and Kim Haggerty
• AGLC has 12 members that are trained Stephen Ministers
• There are 4 active member care receivers
• A Stephen Minister is available after Sunday’s church service
• Members faithfully listen, empathize, encourage, and pray for and with people in times of crisis

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Prayer Chain

• Prayer requests are managed by Kim Saunders

Member Care 2023 Highlights

Meal Train

• Linnea Wolters sets up meal train for people going through difficult times
• 4 meal train requests for AGLC members

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Memorial Service

• Committee members contributed food for 1 memorial service

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Encouragement Ministry

• There are 15 members on the homebound/encouragement list receiving notes and cards and gifts by Member Care Committee
• Holiday baskets assembled and delivered to homebound members

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Senior Sunday

• Recognized and honored 8 high school seniors

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College Care

• 16 AGLC college students receive quarterly encouragement cards/gift cards

Member Care 2023 Highlights

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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Member Care Committee

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

Ways Our Kids Have Been Involved

Youth Room Updates

Summer Camp

Vacation Bible School

Christmas Pageant

Sunday School

Confirmation

Youth Group

Goals for 2024

To know what our goals are, first you need to know about our program! So here is a little info on us!

What Are We About?

Welcome to Abiding Grace Family Ministry, where we're all about experiencing God's incredible love and sharing it with everyone around us!

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Our mission is to create a space of acceptance, belonging, and discovery for young people, so they can truly understand just how much they are loved by God.

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We're all about making a real impact in the lives of our young people, and together we'll embark on an exciting journey of faith, friendship, and transformation!

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WE WIN

WHEN A KID TAKES A STEP

TOWARD OWNING THEIR FAITH.

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How do we define a “win”?

WE WIN

WHEN A KID TAKES A STEP

TOWARD OWNING THEIR FAITH.

How Do We Do That?

TAKING A STEP

• Now, we say “takes a step” for a reason. It’s because there’s no finish line or certificate of completion when it comes to spiritual growth. Instead, spiritual growth is a life-long journey and no two journeys are identical. That’s why our big win doesn’t have anything to do with a specific skill or achievement. Instead, we win anytime we see a kid take a single step closer to owning their faith.

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OWNING THEIR FAITH

• What exactly does it look like for a kid to own their faith? Well, we believe there are four things that both lead to, and are a result of, spiritual growth. We call these four things our four spiritual habits.

What Are The “Four Spiritual Habits”?

1. SPEND TIME WITH GOD�
2. SPEND TIME WITH OTHERS�
3. USE THEIR GIFTS�
4. SHARE THEIR STORY

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We count it as a win whenever a kid takes a step toward owning their faith

by practicing one, or maybe even all four, of these spiritual habits.

Goals For 2024

Children’s

Teach the stories of the bible in an engaging and fun way to help main lessons sink in and start to take root.

Confirmation

Question everything. Wrestle and begin to make your faith your own.

Youth

Putting our faith into action.

Needs for 2024

Volunteers

Activity Suggestions

Group Outings

More information

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Vicar’s Report

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What I did in 2023

• Internship (officially) started last February
• Thank you to my committee members who have been meeting with me monthly
• Toni Holte, Kathy Baines, Lori Anderson, Debbie Kelley, Jim Anderson, Chad Nelson
• Internship officially ends in August
• Women’s Fellowship and Bible Study (monthly on Saturdays)
• Including a Women’s Convention with WELCA
• Midweek Bible study
• Studied topics including Healing and Disability, Emotions (Inside Out), Names of God
• Wednesdays at 10:30, resumes on Feb 7th
• Retreat planning
• Worship, Bible studies, logistics
• ELCA Hunger Grant partnership with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Vicar’s Report

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What I did in 2023

• Preaching
• Sermon series
• @ GSLC
• Young Adults events
• Worship planning
• Teaching confirmation
• Home/Communion Visits
• Seminary classes
• Fall classes finished the week before Christmas: New Testament Letters, Lutheran Ethics, Global Church History and Mission
• Graduation May 2025

Vicar’s Report

What I learned in 2023

• Being on Church council, I’ve had the opportunity to see how the budget and decisions for the church are managed.
• Preaching and worshiping at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has been helpful in seeing how other churches worship, how other pastors plan, and preaching to an unfamiliar congregation. Pastor Kathryn is my mentor and from her I’ve learned about practical resources and strategies for worship and sermon preparation.
• Preparing the retreat has been a learning experience as I’ve had the chance to help plan the logistics, Bible studies, and worship.
• I’ve been growing in my worship leadership skills including presiding over communion. Last year, I also got to preside over my first baptism!

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Vicar’s Report

What I’m looking forward to in 2024

• Upcoming seminary coursework for the Spring Semester: Acts, Pastoral Care, Global Church History and Mission 2
• Stewardship - committee and campaign

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Pastor’s Report

2023 – A year to be proud of!

• One of our goals in 2023 was to increase membership. AGLC accepted 40 new members in 2023!
• 22 new members in April and 18 new members in October
• 10% increase in membership
• Momentum has returned!
• In addition to 40 new members, we baptized 9 children!

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Pastor’s Report

2023 – A year to be proud of!

• Paid off our mortgage 14 years early!
• We were able to more:
• Ice cream truck at Christmas
• “When I mentioned the B&J truck, she said that her kids, who have sworn off organized religion, may even come.”
• 2023 Goal: Invite, invite, invite
• Make it easier to invite friends and relatives.

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Pastor’s Report

2024 – A year to be excited about doing more!

• New Members & More Baptisms
• Upcoming Lenten Retreat
• Lenten Mentoring
• Easter & Holy Week Invitation Opportunities
• Growing our Endowment Fund
• Tanzania Planning
• Strategic Planning: Continuing to Dream Big!

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Pastor’s Report

2024 – A year to be excited about doing more!

• 2024 Promises
• Proclaim the Gospel
• Help you/Encourage you/Challenge you to grow as disciple
• Fellowship, Bible Studies, Podcast, etc.
• Be there for you whenever you need us
• Be more visible in the community

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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.