August 2022
Council Corner
We did not hold a council meeting in July as there were scheduling issues for various council members and very few items of note to discuss on our agenda. However, business as usual transpired during the month. I will do my best in the paragraphs below to keep you up-to-date.
First of all, the call committee notified the council that Deacon Brenda Tibbetts approved the combined Ministry Site Profile (MSP) for Hope Lutheran and Babbitt Evangelical Lutheran Church (BELC). The document henceforth has been posted on the Northeast Minnesota Synod website for prospective candidates to review. It is now a waiting game for them to apply.
I want to thank all the members from HLC and BELC who attended the potluck on June 26 at the Embarrass Town Hall. The turnout was excellent. The food and conversation were even better. Both churches outdid themselves. We hope to continue holding this event 2-3 times a year moving forward.
Tana Johnson held two separate meetings at the Embarrass Town Hall to discuss the potential crafting of a strategic plan. Invitations were proffered to the council members of HLC and BELC in addition to the surrounding community. While members of both churches attended the July 10 and July 12 meetings, it was hoped that a few more people would have shown up. We discussed various ideas affecting both churches including membership growth, resources, finances, community fellowship, etc. Based on what we heard, the councils from Hope Lutheran and Babbitt Evangelical will decide at their respective August meetings whether or not to pursue the crafting of a strategic plan moving forward.
Pastor Birk’s last day as pastor for both churches will be August 21, 2022. To show him our thanks and gratitude, we will be holding a potluck retirement party on this date starting at approximately noon at the picnic pavilion next to BELC. If the weather gets in the way, we will move the celebration to the church’s basement. Please feel free to join in the festivities as Pastor Birk rides off into the sunset. Thank you for everything, pastor!
Finally, I would like to thank Rocky Roggenbuck for volunteering his time to mow the church lawn. He has done this for countless summers and always makes the grounds look nice. Thank you once again, Rocky.
May God grant you peace until we meet again next month…….
In God’s Name,
Lance Kupka
Council President
Hope Lutheran Church of Embarrass