Ad Council Notes Mar 2025

Trinity UMC Administrative Council Meeting

March 27, 2025

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

Administrative Council met March 27, 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 February meeting were approved as written.

Old Business:

Community Garden: Carol Stoppkotte reported that there was a meeting with interested church members. They discussed any issues that may arise. A soil sample was submitted and the results show fairly good soil. Some nutrients will need to be added. The plan is for the garden to open the first week of May.

Carol has posted notices in the newspaper and has flyers for Howard School. She will have a Journeys article in the church bulletin and speak at church services. Steve said English/Spanish flyers will be posted in some community places.

A grant application has been submitted to the Nebraska Methodist Grant Foundation. Carol plans to contact Brian Whitecalf. He sponsors a garden club at Senior High.

New Business:

Church Committees: Finance, Stewardship and Endowment Committees need new members to bring in new voices and ideas. Tom Graves plans to step down as Stewardship chair. He is now chair of Trustees. There may be some realignment of committees. Any changes would happen at Charge Conference.

Lay Leader to Annual Conference: LeEllen reported that Trinity is allowed 2 lay members to Annual Conference. LeEllen is one member but Deb Eschliman has declined to attend this year. LeEllen nominated Connie Schaaf to be a Lay Leader to Annual Conference. Deb Brummund seconded and Connie was elected.

Youth Room: Deb Brummund said groups that meet in the Youth Room during the day have issues with glare from the windows. Marge Terman has offered to pay for blackout shades. After discussion, Deb made a motion that Marge Terman’s offer be accepted and blackout shades be purchased for the Youth Room. Tom Graves seconded and the motion carried. Deb will ask Marge to contact Drapery Den to provide and install the blinds.

Administrative Reports:

Finance: Bruce Schreiner reported that we have recovered ERC funds with $75,208 in February and $64,577 in March. Bruce recommended that we pay some of the Endowment Funds back if we can earn more interest. He made the motion to move $75,000 from the checking account to the Endowments General fund if it will be advantageous, and with the provision we can retrieve it back if needed. Deb seconded and the motion carried.

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 Miller Hall has been painted and church volunteers cleaned all the wall tiles. The second phase will be to replace the carpet. The third phase to address the acoustics has been put on hold.

A Kearney Company will repair the Bell Tower leak using a spray process. This will cost $9,000. Trustees are getting bids for the sanctuary roof. They will be restriping the parking lots.

Stewardship: Tom requested that a new Stewardship Chair be found since he now chairs the Trustees Committee. He said that combining some committees may make sense.

SPRC: Vaughn Minton said that SPRC has met the new Associate Pastor, Rev. Shella Choi. She and her husband will need to find housing to rent. The committee will be meeting soon to complete the Leadership Assessment process for our pastors.

Vision Committee: Deb Brummund reported that shirt orders will close March 30. There will be another sale period in June, and again in the fall. They are exploring Trinity participating in Neighborhood Night Out.

There was no report from Endowments

Program Reports:

Family Ministries: Christina said Trinity Night Out will be April 30, 6:30-8:00pm, at Pete’s Safari. It will cost $6 per person, and there will be a meal at the church before going there.

The Zone kids will wave palm branches in a procession on Palm Sunday. During Lent, Christina is leading a 3 week class, “God’s Family Around the Table.” She is planning Senior Sunday. Instead of the breakfast for the graduates’ families, there will be a congregational cel- ebration similar to what we do for confirmation.

The 4th Street Festival will be September 27-28 this year. We will need to considered what to promote at our booth. Christina is looking for other places to promote VBS.

Five kids have signed up for camp. Camp scholarship funds are getting low. It had been decided earlier that Education Endowment funds could be used for scholarships.

Missons: Mission Committee served a Wednesday night meal and served a meal at the Salvation Army. March Loaves and Fishes served 515 families including 1723 people. 54% of the families had children under 18 years of age. Three new people were trained as workers. Missions will sponsor a guest speaker on Saturday/Sunday services after Annual Conference.

There were no reports from Hospitality, Healthy Congregations or UMM.

Pastor’s Reports:

Pastor Anny shared that the Saturday evening service is going well. She continues to do hospital and some home visits. The Youth group helped serve a Wednesday meal. They are grateful for the support of the Administration Committee and congregation.

Rev. April reported preparations are beginning for the community fishing tournament. She has communicated with the city parks department. It is scheduled for June 22 from 2:00-5:00pm at Sucks Lake. There will be advertising, posters, etc. Trophies and small prizes will be awarded.

The 160th anniversary celebration will be the 3rd Sunday of September in 2026. An invitation will be extended to our bishop. A planning committee will be formed.

On Maundy Thursday there will be a short Seder service and a potluck meal. A 6:30 Easter sunrise service is planned followed by a breakfast prepared by United Methodist Men. The staff is planning a fun Easter service at 9:30.

Following services and GIFT, the first Sunday of June and continuing through the last Sunday of July, a light meal and activities will be planned outside.

The meeting adjourned. The next meeting will be at the church on April 25, 2025.

Respectfully submitted,

LeEllen Haynes, Secretary