Ad Council Notes Apr 2025

Trinity UMC Administrative Council Meeting

April 24, 2025

Present: Rev. April Wegehaupt, Pastor Carla Gunn, Steven Stoppkotte, Carol Stoppkotte, Vaughn Minton, Tom Graves, Susan Stoppkotte, Christina Landenberger, Deb Brummund, Bruce Schreiner, Ron Underwood, LeEllen Haynes

Administrative Council met April 24, 2025, through Zoom. Chair Steven Stoppkotte called the meeting to order. Rev. April opened with a prayer followed by Steven reading Trinity’s Mission and Vision statements. Minutes of the March meeting were approved as written.

Old Business:

Community Garden: Carol Stoppkotte reported that McCain Foods contacted her and volunteered to sponsor the community garden. They will provide supplies and volunteers to work. The name chosen for the garden is Haven Garden, and the mission statement is “Trinity United Methodist Church, in partnership with McCain Foods, is following in Jesus’ footsteps by seeking to help those with food insecurity. Our mission is to provide a safe place to grow a garden for those in need of physical and spiritual nourishment.”

The raised beds have been finished and they have started breaking ground. The garden will have some flowers and mostly vegetables. Mulch needs to be laid down and beds filled with soil.

Scholarship Grant Fund: Susan has searched through records and information in a bulletin indicates the grant fund was started in 1972. She will send this to Bruce. Rev. April said it may be possible to use some of these funds towards the Associate Pastor’s salary as a training time.

New Business: A capital campaign will be needed to replace the sanctuary roof. A combined committee of Stewardship, Endowment and Finance could coordinate this effort. Vaughn Minton made a motion to combine these three committees for the duration of the roof capital campaign. The motion was seconded and carried.

Administrative Reports:

Finance: Bruce Schreiner reported that our giving is up $16,000 from last year. In order to earn more interest, $75,000 of the ERC funds will be moved to the Endowment Fund. Bruce recommended and made a motion to pay $4,500 in Mission Shares this month. Deb seconded and the motion carried.

Trustees: Tom reported that cabinets in Miller Hall have been painted. They have 2 bids for the flooring, and need to decide on solid carpeting or carpet squares. There are 2 bids for the sanctuary roof. One with asbestos abatement and one without. The White Castle bid is $322,000 for the roof but not the gutters.

The blackout blinds in The Youth Room have been installed. Lighting in the Gathering Place will be replaced. Concerning parking lot striping, it has been recommended, in the east lot, to have 2 handicapped parking stalls in the center section closest to the building. They would accessible for a handicap equipped van.

SPRC: Vaughn Minton reported that SPRC completed the Leadership Assessment process for our pastors. Pastor Anny will leave the first week of June. We will have a farewell celebration for her during the evening meal on Wednesday, May 28. In June SPRC will be preparing for Rev. Shella Choi’s arrival.

There were no reports from Endowments,Stewardship, or Vision Commitee

Program Reports:

Family Ministries: Christina said April GIFT event will be Popcorn and Bingo, and the May event is Puzzles and Pretzels. Senior Sunday is May 18. There will be a breakfast before the service for everyone to attend. During the service the Seniors will be introduced and receive a gift. This summer after worship each Sunday fun activities will be planned for kids.

Family Ministries will have a booth at the fishing derby to promote VBS. Christina will try to get a date reserved for the Wood River swimming pool. VBS is scheduled for July 27-31 from 5:30 to 8:00pm with a supper each night including parents. The theme is Trinity’s Amazing Animal Adventures.

Hospitality: Pastor Carla said they plan to have insulated lunch bags and cups to give to first time visitors. There will be a training session for ushers and greeters. They want to move back to having sign-in in the pews. They are working on improved signage in the church building.

Missions: On May 4, Mission Committee will prepare and serve a Sunday night meal at the Salvation Army. April Loaves and Fishes served 525 families including 1679 people. They had double amounts of vegetables and bread. Vicki Deuel will be the guest speaker on Saturday/Sunday services after Annual Conference. She will talk about the Stolley Park gardens.

UMM: UMM served a breakfast after the Easter Sunrise Service.

There was no report from Healthy Congregations.

Pastor’ Reports:

Rev. April reported, in June, we will start having a light lunch following Sunday services at 11:00am. There will be signage to promote this. Preparations continue for the community fishing tournament. Divisions for prizes will be Toddlers, Children, Youth, and Adults. The Sudanese congregation’s last Sunday at Trinity will be May 25th. Thermometer charts are now up in the church to show how we are progressing on the budget.

Pastor Carla said 29 people participated in the Plarnathon. One mat was completed and 2/3 of another mat. She recently went to Midwest Missions.

The meeting adjourned. The next meeting will be May 15, 2025.

Respectfully submitted,

LeEllen Haynes, Secretary