SEMI-ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - JANUARY 22, 2006 - AGENDA
2005 ANNUAL REPORT
REPORTS
ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PASTOR
FOR 2005
Our life as God’s people is grounded in worship, and as in previous years, worship is where I choose to begin my report for 2005. Over the past twelve months our worship life was definitely characterized in terms of its variety from the traditional Sunday morning services in the sanctuary to less formal ones in the Parish Hall during the summer months, from Lenten midweek services to Ascension Day worship celebrating our 45th anniversary as a congregation. Other special services included those on Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve and early on Easter morning. Of some concern to us all was the fact that average Sunday attendance in 2005 was 57, down 6% from 63 in 2004 but not anywhere near as precipitous a drop as we saw from 2003 to 2004. We continued to see a steady stream of visitors this past year, which I find quite encouraging. Thanks to the many individuals who shared gifts of worship leadership this past year—the choir, assisting ministers, lectors, acolytes, Communion Assistants, altar guild members, ushers and a host of other “unspoken heroes” including the one and only Don Bergstrom. Last, I want to express my sincere gratitude to our music staff, Anna Simmons and Lisa Yanez for all of their work this past year.
Much of our energy this past year was focused on “inspiring worship” through the Natural Church Development Process. Working through data gathered in meetings with congregational cluster groups earlier in the year, the NCD Health Team has identified a number of goals for us to work on in the coming year. (See committee reports) I think these goals offer us a great opportunity to focus in some very clear directions this coming year and I encourage us all to do our part in helping to implement them. Thanks to our team members Anna Simmons, Carol Crader, Charles Bachand and Celeste Domsch.
Our Hand in Hand Christian Day School continued to be one of the best things going for us as a congregation. Enrollment was up again in 2005, there was change in staff and morale remained high. Our day school board led by Matt Domsch has begun looking into ways of expanding our program that would include reaching out to the new medical office complex on Balcones. I want to offer a special word of thanks to our Director Debra Miller. I continue to value and appreciate her as a colleague and one who fully supports Ascension’s mission as a congregation. She is a blessing to us all.
We were renewed through a variety of different learning opportunities during 2005. Vacation Bible School was a collaborative effort this year as we teamed up with our friends at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church for a truly successful Vacation event in June. A hundred plus children and volunteers filling the parish hall was a sight rarely seen in these parts, but our facilities definitely stood the test.
We continued to serve the community through our medical lending closet. Don can provide a more detailed assessment, but from my perspective, it seemed like we had more items donated and requests made than ever before. We are becoming even more widely known in the Austin medical community as a result of this important ministry and of course our year end television spot didn’t hurt either. (There’s nothing quite like a little free publicity!)
In 2005, we were blessed to share our financial gifts in support of the wider ministry we are a part of through the Southwestern Texas Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal (especially hurricane and tsunami relief), Lutheran Social Services of the South, Cross Trails Camping Ministry, Lutheran Campus Ministry as well as a host of other local ministries including Caritas, Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, Interfaith Care Alliance and the Capitol Area Food Bank. Our gifts beyond the four walls of Ascension serve to make Christ’s love known to the entire world.
Our Seminarian in Residence Steve continues to mature and grow in his gifts of leadership as he prepares for ordained ministry. He has brought so much to us in terms of his gifts—as a preacher, teacher, as an audio/visual and “all things high tech” expert. Likewise his infectious energy and passion has been life giving to us all. I so much value the opportunity he and I have to work collaboratively as we focus on our mission as a congregation. We are so blessed to have Becca be a part of our community too and we look forward to sharing the birth of their first child in the coming months. We’ll definitely miss all three of them when Steve heads off for his internship later this spring.
On a personal note, I want to thank you all for your continued support of me in my ministry as your pastor. Your expressions of love, your prayers and encouragement mean the world to me. Your very generous gift to me and my family at Christmas time was so very kind. I thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your lives in such a meaningful way. I also want to thank you for your continued support and encouragement as I follow my passion for hunger and justice issues. Jenny, Max, Luke and I are blessed to be a part of this wonderful, loving community known as Ascension Lutheran Church.
For all the good gifts that God has given us, gifts we are in turn blessed to share with others, we offer our thanks and praise.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pastor Brian Peterson
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL PRESIDENT
Each new year makes me think about changes and renewal. Some people make a lot of resolutions about changing their behavior or appearance. Some take stock in what happened in the past year. Some reorganize their goals. As my second term begins it’s journey, I have been blessed by the members of Ascension. I have found a renewal in my life and my Christian walk has been refreshed. I have actually witnessed the Holy Spirit working in and about our congregation. This has given me a spiritual renewal. Spiritual renewal is much more than New Year’s resolutions or New Year’s reflections. To actually feel God working through His Grace for everyone is the most awesome experience I have had in my Christian faith.
I thank this church for letting me journey with you as we serve our Risen Lord.
God Bless
Gary Cowles
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
EVANGELISM COMMITTEE
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
Matthew 28:19
I am so blessed to be a part of our congregation and the opportunity to communicate Christ’s love to others. I have found that true evangelism cannot be the responsibility of one person but it’s the atmosphere of our whole congregation.
We have so many that step up and promote and plan many activities that equip our saints in the Great Commission.
Our Fall Festival was again a big success reaching out to our community. Special thanks to Nancy Johnson and the many volunteers.
Special thanks to Lorain Glawe for her Muffin Ministry and Cookie program for the patients at the Oncology Center.
We had the Angel Tree program to help six foster children through our Lutheran Social Services.
We “walked” the neighborhood spreading the word and planting seeds. I encourage everyone to do this whenever you can.
Special thanks to Tom Clark and Matt Domsch for keeping our information current and available through our wonderful web site.
We are so blessed at this church to have so many people that help in their own way by acknowledging visitors, wearing name tags and most important a friendly welcome to all our visitors and guests.
I thank you and may God continue to bless us.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary Cowles
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
2005 started out with generous rains, resulting is more leaks in the sanctuary over the alter area. Century Painting and Roofing found our roof had hail damage. They replaced the roof at a cost of $8,700. This was covered by insurance. Century Painting gave us a proposal of $2,875.00 to paint the sanctuary and 700.00 to tape, float and texture cracks in the narthex ceiling. This proposal is good for the year 2006.
We had two workdays during the year. ABC pest control was used to trap rats in the Parish Life Center building. The curbs on the parking lot were painted marking the fire lane area and the railings were painted. Repairs have been done as funds permitted during the year.
Thanks to all who have helped.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Tate
NCD HEALTH TEAM
PROPOSED S.M.A.R.T. GOALS
1. Plan and implement a monthly Sunday evening worship event on a 3 month trial basis beginning in January 2006.
2. Actively create participation opportunities and invite all members at least once a quarter to one of the created opportunities.
3. Plan and implement special "5th Sunday" worship experiences, i.e. "youth or 'Christ Care Group Sunday", new liturgy Jazz, bluegrass, etc.)
4. Recruit and train a "preaching team" of at least 5 individuals to offer the Sunday sermon once a month (2-3 times per year per individual), beginning the season of Pentecost 2006.
5. Offer a five week class on the elements of Lutheran worship during Lent 2006. (Could be a Sunday morning offering, but could also be held at another time.)
6. Recognize member birthdays & anniversaries once a month with a special order of blessing & fellowship on the second Sunday of the month beginning in January 2006.
7. Monthly or bi-monthly meetings of the NCD Health Team, Worship Planning Team and Fellowship Planning Team beginning in January 2005 to allow for greater synergy between worship and fellowship ministries.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH REPORT, 2005
During 2005 vas a number of activities I was involved with in order to bring our church into the public's attention. Our Medical Lending closet was, as usual, well used this past year
year. The following items were made available to individuals within the community:
9 wheel chairs, 2 power chairs, 10 walkers, 1 - 5 prong canes, 2 canes, 5 pair crutches. 5 shower chairs, 2 transferee benches, 7 bed side commodes, 3 commode risers, one set tub rails, 1 pair of commode rails, 1 leg brace.
These and other items were received during the year that allows us to give this service. We are over stocked with walkers and bedside commodes. Have given some of these items to other caregiver originations in our area.
Was given 5 broken wheel chairs and \vas able to make 3 good ones out of them
Our MEN IN" MISSION, which along with the Mission from Pease Lutheran Church, held the "Christmas in July" program to benefit the New Life Children's Treatment Center at Canyon Lake. Over 1,000 dollars was raised, along with many personal items for the girls who live there. Thrivent for Lutherans matched 800 dollars for the money we raised.
Was able to obtain 2400 dollars from Thrivent for use in doing projects here at the
church. Painting the curbs in the parking lot, painting the rails along the walk way, putting lights along the PLC building to give more light into the parking lot. Gave 800 dollars toward the removal of the ball moss from the trees. Paid to have our banners in the church restored. Money was also used to help pay for our Thanksgiving meal.
Was able to get our church listed with 211, Information and referral resources for about anything.
By our giving to IFCA (Interfaith Care Alliance) and AAIM (Austin Area Interreligious
Ministries) we have helped those in need, not only with our money as well as our time. Have worked with Austin Hospice and Asera Care Hospice with support from our lending closet and time given to care receivers.
The church collected 24 bags of food for Caritas the first part of the year.
Our PLC building is used by several organizations during the week the Life Time Learning Institute use the building for classes twice a year.
The building is used as a polling place for elections. All of these activities put our
church's name in the community.
I co taught a class of 11 to become Stephen Ministers at Bethany united Methodist
Church. There were people from 3 different churches in the class.
Was able to collect a number of medical supplies, 21 large boxes, for MEDICO which provides free medical, eye, and dental services to remote areas in Central America \vere there is little or no access to medical services.
I have also been involved with other activities as part of our outreach.
I am not sure if any of these activities have increased our membership any, but I do know that Ascension Lutheran Church is known in our community where help is needed
and that by far is the payoff.
I am hopeful that I will be able to carryon with this work through out 2006.
Respectfully submitted by
Don Bergstrom
Financial Director Report
At our November congregational meeting, I had anticipated, based on previous years, that November and December finances would be break-even, or a little better. While November income was great, the need to pay some quarterly and end-of-year expenses consumed all that and more. December income was somewhat below expectations, at about $11,275 ($1300 of which was designated to Christmas bonuses and the like), but expenses were $13,545, adding $2270 to our year-to-date deficit. Our 2005 deficit is thus -$15,664.
For calendar year 2005, total income was $136,812.84, averaging $11,401/ month. This does not include much of the in-kind (non-cash) donations which are still being recorded. Total expenses were $152,476.79, averaging $12,706.40 / month. Income was better than expected, and expenses were lower than expected (thanks in large part to members for their in-kind donations to fund various projects), which served to reduce the amount of the expected shortfall. I have personally gone through our regular expenses with an eye towards reduction, and while some minor adjustments have been made, I can assure you that every offering dollar is being spent on necessities, none is wasted.
Budget
Actual
Income:
$133,500
$136,813
Expenses:
$156,251
$152,477
Shortfall:
$22,751
$15,664
To make up for the monthly shortfall, we have been forced to move money out of the Building Fund Savings Account on a regular basis.
As of Sunday January 8, we have $3,967 in Checking, $8,178 in the Building Fund Savings account, $7,187 in the Building Fund Investment account, and $15,522 in the Endowment Fund, for available cash on hand of$19,332 plus the Endowment Fund.
Looking ahead, if we continue at our current income/expense pace, we will exhaust our savings accounts this year. We must make a concerted effort to increase our evangelism and outreach programs (detailed in other reports), and increase membership. We are looking at expanding the Hand-in-Hand Day School program, particularly in light of the new medical office building being built across the street. Other fundraising opportunities must be considered as well.
We are still in need of someone to assume the weekly responsibilities of Treasurer. Kelly has done a fantastic job, and is working to close out the 2005 books. She would appreciate training a new Treasurer during January and February.
Respectfully submitted,
Matt Domsch
SEMI-ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2006
11:30 AM
CHURCH SANCTUARY
Agenda
I. Establishment of a Quorum
II. Call to Order
III. Opening Prayer
IV. Minutes of the November 13, 2005 Semi-Annual Congregational Meeting
V. Presentation of the 2005 Annual Report
A. Financial Reports
B. Committee Reports
C. Report of the Pastor
VI. New Business
A. Election of Voting Members to the 2006 Synod Assembly, May 19-20, 2006 at the Omni Bayfront Hotel, Corpus Christi.
B. Special Appeal – Parking Lot Lights
C. Other
VII. Unfinished Business
VIII. Closing Prayer
IX. Adjournment
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