Annual Reports 2011

CONGREGATION CHAIRMAN

Ron Stieglitz

Each year when I review the events of the past year in preparation for writing this report, I am struck by the many ways that the Lord has both blessed and challenged our congregation.  Equally striking are the ways in which individuals have continued to thank and praise Him in spite of personal trials or have shared their blessings in His service.  A significant number of us have experienced health, family, personal, or economic difficulties yet remain faithful, actively concerned about others, and willing to help.  There is also a growing realization that we also have a mission to members of our community and that we can and should be involved with them.  We are indeed a caring family of Christians.

The Transforming Churches Network process begun near the end of 2010 continued throughout 2011.  A Bible Study Task Force has undertaken a review of our educational opportunities.  A Listening and Visioning Task Force interviewed a variety of government and private sector individuals to better understand their needs and problems and how we might assist them.  A Leadership Learning Group was formed in August and has met approximately monthly with the goal of learning new or more effective approaches to ministry and mission in the context of our present culture.  While each of the groups has made progress, some have moved farther than others and much remains to be accomplished. 

In February, a celebration of our 35^th anniversary included a Gifts From The Heart

 campaign to reduce the loan for our roof repair.  The response was most gratifying.  In March, a new mission statement, Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church proclaims Jesus Christ and promotes spiritual growth for all people, was adopted.  Not only were activities such as the annual rummage sale, vacation Bible school, Lent and Advent soup suppers, and the UW-Green Bay ministry continued, but other activities were initiated or improved.  For example, plots were prepared for community gardens that were eagerly received, Pastor DeCoste began an association with the ministry at the nearby jail, and relationships with the Baird Creek Neighborhood Association and Baird School were strengthened.  Ties with our schools, Trinity Lutheran School and Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran High School, remain close, and support for their auctions, athletic contest, concerts, plays, and other events is frequent and generous. 

A year of grace has passed and another begins.  As a congregation and as individuals, we have received many gifts.  We have also had many opportunities to share the greatest gift of the Gospel with those who do not know the comfort and joy of a relationship with our Savior.  Some were successfully taken advantage of and some were not.  Never-the-less, we continue to imperfectly do His will.  The Lord’s work is all around us.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION REPORT

Leanne Lange

Christian education for all ages continues to be a priority at Christ of the Bay. In addition to the many opportunities within our congregation to grow in the Word, we are blessed to be partners with Green Bay Trinity and N.E.W. Lutheran High School as we work together to develop Christian leaders for tomorrow. Although our in-church programs have dedicated leaders and many committed participants, we continue to look for ways to improve and expand these programs to better serve the needs of both congregation members and the community at large.

Sunday School : Sunday School, under the direction of Amy DeMaio, is again using the “Growing in Christ” curriculum in its three groups, made up of approximately eighteen potential students. Finding enough teachers continues to be a struggle, and we are very thankful for those who have faithfully stepped up to the task: Ingrid DeCoste, Tammy Nitka, Erika Bertram, Jen Birschbach, Brianne Stieglitz, Kristin Voskamp, and Amy DeMaio. At times the older students help with the younger groups, which provides a valuable learning experience for all. The Sunday School students, with the guidance of Amy DeMaio and the other teachers, again led the Tannenbaum worship on Dec. 18.

Vacation Bible School : 30-40 kids went on an exciting Big Jungle Adventure during VBS in August. Under the leadership of Jen Birschbach, the week was a huge success with many of the participants vowing to return next year. To this end, Jen is collecting data that will help with the planning and registration process for the next VBS. Many volunteers aided in numerous ways with teaching, leading music, coordinating crafts, providing snacks, and playing games. The involvement of the youth group was especially appreciated as they filled in wherever there was a need.

Confirmation Class : Kiana Thompson and Karissa Voskamp were confirmed in 2011. This year Pastor DeCoste is instructing two candidates for confirmation—Allison DeCoste and Jacob Eckberg—along with six students who are in their first year of instruction—Rachel DeMaio, Sam Guenther, Karlie Komp, Alexander Muraski, Erik Voskamp, and Ashley Wilke. In late August, Allison, Karlie, Alexander, Erik, Rachel, and Sam enjoyed some special days at Camp Luther, where they attended Confirmation Camp along with a group of students from Faith Lutheran.

Adult Bible Study Opportunities : We have a variety of opportunities for Bible study and fellowship for men, women, and mixed groups. A Bible Study Task Force has begun looking at the needs for expanding these opportunities.

· Sunday Morning Study: Pastor DeCoste leads a Bible/Catechism study and discussion every Sunday morning between services. With approximately twenty members attending sporadically, the average weekly attendance has been about eight.

· A breakfast group for men meets at Perkins Restaurant Tuesdays at 7:30 for fellowship and Bible study. This group of approximately five, led by Rev. David Boettcher, is currently studying the Book of Ephesians.

· Thursday Evening Women’s Group: This group of 10-12 meets on the first and third Thurs. of each month. On the first Thurs., the group enjoys a lively in-home Bible study (currently based on Beth Moore’s “Esther”); and on the third Thurs., they gather at a local restaurant for an evening of fun, fellowship, and great food.

·       Wednesday Morning Ladies’ Group:  Each Wed. at 9:00, women gather in the church library for refreshments followed by themed Bible study.  Deb Grothman and Denise Kleinschmidt led this group of about ten during the past year. 

·       The Birschbach Small Group Bible Study:  This group of 3-8 people met at the home of Brett and Jennifer Birschbach at 6:30pm on different nights according to people’s schedules.  They studied the Books of Genesis, Revelations and others. Their meeting date and time is listed on the Christ of the Bay Facebook page/wall each week.

·       For part of the year, Paul Otto led a senior adult study that met on Wednesday afternoons in the church library.

All of these groups invite you to come to the studies and see how the Holy Spirit is working through them.  They would love to welcome new participants.

OUTREACH

Dianne Rentmeester

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Outreach Director for the past two and a half years.  My term is up in May and I will be leaving the COBLC Board of Directors at that time after nine years. 

Last March at the Ladies in Mission Rummage Sale we handed out over 100 refrigerator white boards and pens with the COBLC address & phone number on as well as an invitation to attend COBLC Lent, Holy Week and Easter services. 

Christ of the Bay members also participated in the Baird Neighborhood Kids Night Out picnic supplying ice cream sandwiches and visiting with our neighbors in August.  This event was very well attended by the community and we had the opportunity to talk with quite a few people about COBLC. 

This fall members of Christ of the Bay participated in the Back to Campus event at UWGB.    Students were handed out refrigerator white boards, (yes we purchased quite a few), and handed out cupcakes as we invited them to church and talked to them about the Lord. 

As we work throughout 2012 we will find more ways to reach out to our community and bring the word of our Lord to our friends and neighbors who may not know the good news of salvation through Christ.

PROPERTY

John Nienow

      This year to balance our budget we looked for ways to save money including decreasing the cost of heat, electricity and air conditioning.  We added an on/off switch for the roof vent blower so it would not be running continually. This decreased the amount of heat and air conditioning that was lost.   We saved another $30 a month by having the large light at the entrance to the parking lot turned off. Between the new roof, turning the large light off and the ability to shut the vent blower off, we are showing a savings on our utility bills. The parking lot has a motion detector light which was installed on the garage. We purchased filters for the furnaces and are changing them ourselves.  Another way we tried to reduce cost was to mow our own grass. We did save money, but the lawn did not always look good. We may have to look into paying to have it mowed this coming year or investing in a lawn mower.  This would require members to volunteer to mow the lawn.  We cut back on cleaning the church from every week to every other week.  The plan was to have members scheduled to clean the alternating week. This started out ok but from summer to the end of the year the church was only cleaned every other week by the paid cleaning crew.  If we want to continue to decrease expenses we need to come up with a plan that will ensure the church is cleaned every week. 

     Other projects included replacing the burnt out spot lights in the sanctuary and having them realigned.  Covenant Electric gave us the use of their power lift to accomplish this.  In addition, this enabled us to clean the fans and light fixtures.  We replaced the half-moon window in the sanctuary. This was under warranty and only cost us labor.  We had the heat fixed in the fellowship hall, and recently had the sound system in the church fixed.

    Spring and Fall Cleanup had a great turnout and everything went smoothly.

    Winter is here and as usual there are opportunities for shoveling snow and salting sidewalks. There is a signup sheet just outside the Sanctuary on the table.  One thing to add, for the first time since I have been here we are paying for snow plowing.  Ralph and Brett Lange have retired from snow plowing after many years of service. Many thanks from all of us! 

     I would like to thank all who have volunteered their services throughout the year. Without your help, we wouldn’t have accomplished the projects that we did. However, there are still many opportunities to help us reach our budgetary goals. Your help in any way is greatly appreciated.

    Here we are 2012, a new year, with new opportunities to serve God.

    Anything is possible with God’s help!

STEWARDSHIP

Kim Kidney

I have only recently assumed the duties as the new Director of Stewardship.  However, in the past two months of the calendar year, and with God’s help, I have been finding my way in this new territory.  We, members of Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church, are gifted with time, talents, and treasures that we freely give back in service to the Lord.  My prayer is that we continue to be active in this regard.

My first goal was to examine the stewardship resources that are available to us and there are many.  I have made some progress in examining the resources furnished by Pastor Curtis and other resources available at the Synod web site. My next goal is to further examine those stewardship resources, examine the activities that we have carried out in the past, develop a plan of action, and initiate activities that will assist us reaching out to others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

On November 13, 2011, during both services, I made a short presentation on Stewardship using a Thanksgiving theme.  I plan to make additional presentations in 2012 as appropriate.

At the end of December I served on a special task force that met to review our financial situation at Christ of the Bay and to explore ways to close the gap between income and expenses.  I will continue to serve on the task force and assist with a special event planned for February 2012.

Please help me work with you to identify our time, talents, and treasures, and then to use them to carry out our mission here at Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church.  Thanks be to God.

TREASURER

Rob Grothman

During the first two weeks of 2011, I was unavailable to fulfill the duties of treasurer.  Heather Ryczek picked up the responsibility.  Thanks to her expertise, our church books remained accurate and organized during my absence.

Christ of the Bay LC-MS congregation approved a deficit budget for 2011.  This was based on the expectation that our local economy was rebounding and gifts would increase beyond expectations.  However, giving did not rebound.  Thankfully, Christ of the Bay was blessed with less than expected costs for worship, the facilities, and the office.  This closed much of the gap, but not all of it.  Consequently, the Board of Directors was not able to distribute all the planned end of the year charitable giving.  The following 2011 Final Budget shows where income and spending differed from our original plans.

Nevertheless, Christ of the Bay can be thankful for the generosity of the congregation.  The following organizations benefited from direct contributions:

Concordia University of Wisconsin

Camp Luther

Green Bay Trinity Lutheran School – In addition to pledged support

Kindred Hearts Assisted Living Facility

LC-MS World Mission

Manna for Life

North Wisconsin District LC-MS

Northeastern Wisconsin Lutheran High School – In addition to pledged support

In accordance with our constitution and by-laws, the Board of Directors assigned a committee to complete an internal review of our church books.  The Board of Directors approved the 2011 Internal Audit Report.

Concerning 2012, the Christ of the Bay congregation again approved a deficit budget.  This time with the expectation that the Board of Directors would facilitate a special event designed to generate additional giving.  This event is currently in the planning stages.

In conclusion, as the treasurer for the last two and one half years, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve.  I am thankful for the patient and supportive Board of Directors.  And, I am thankful for God’s gifts to Christ of the Bay LC-MS.  I pray God continues to rule our hearts and minds to use his gift to glorify our Hope and our Salvation.

WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP

Ken Baumann

Christ of the Bay conducted worship services using a variety of formats.  The 8:00 am services utilized a traditional format, based on the Lutheran Service Book, and the 10:30 services followed a multi-dimensional format with music provided by The Praise Team.  Wednesday night traditional services were also conducted. Regularly scheduled adult Bible study and Sunday School classes were held between the two Sunday services during the school year.  Single Sunday worship services were scheduled during June, July, and August.  Communion was again celebrated at each service. 

Thanks to Deb Grothman for serving as head of the altar guild, Karl Chervenka for scheduling ushers, Denise Kleinschmidt for arranging music for the Praise Team, Leanne Lange for scheduling lectors, and Kristin Voskamp for scheduling organists.

Christ of the Bay members give thanks for the increased ministry challenges the Lord has presented to us through our participation in the Transforming Churches Network (TCN), our involvement with the Baird Creek Neighborhood Association, our developing a relationship with Baird  Elementary School, Pastor’s involvement with the Brown County Jail, and the efforts on the UW Green Bay campus. 

Fellowship during 2011 occurred through a variety of activities.  Regularly scheduled meetings were held by the Ladies in Mission, the Tuesday Men’s Breakfast Bible Study, the Women’s Monthly Bible Study, the Women’s Fellowship Dinners, and the Wednesday Adult Bible Study group.

Christ of the Bay Lutheran Church presently has membership of 200 souls.  The average weekly attendance for 2011 was 105.  There were 7 baptisms.

This report concludes in the sure knowledge that God will bless pastor DeCoste and all the members of the body of Christ this next year as we strive to do His will of taking His Word to all nations.

YOUTH

Kristin Voskamp

Our small group is a busy bunch of kids!  They are active not only in our Youth group activities but also school, sports and other youth groups’ activities.  Several of the Youth come on Sunday morning for the Youth Bible Study.  The Christ of the Bay Youth this past year have participated in several movie nights, a chili cook-off, Thanksgiving Pie sales, Bake sale, VBS, Soup Suppers, a Gym & Jam as well as other activities that I cannot think of. 

They have many ideas for the upcoming year and we are already thinking ahead to the 2013 LCMS Youth Gathering in San Antonio.  Some of their suggestions for the upcoming year?  More movie nights, paintballing, making chili for the NEW Chili Challenge, a brat fry, ski weekends, UWGB Basketball games, making Valentine cupcakes, band nights, lock-ins, Lenten soup suppers, and much more have been discussed.  If anyone is interested in helping the Youth accomplish all these events, please let me know!

Christ of the Bay is blessed to have this small but awesome group of young people.  With God's help, we hope to keep the kids founded in Christ!

CONGREGATION MEETING

November 27, 2011

1.     Called to Order.  Opened w/prayer lead by Pastor DeCoste.

2.     Minutes of the Previous Meeting – Approved

3.     Director’s Reports - most reports foregone to allow enough time for discussion regarding the 2012 budget.

 a.      Treasurer

                      i.     Attachments: Treasury Notes, General Fund Balance Sheet, Asset & Liability Sheet, Change in Financial Position Sheet

                    ii.     Projecting an approximately $10,000 2011 budget deficit, which matches what’s been projected all year.  We have paid the bills by reducing our checking account balance, but cannot sustain this pace for 2012 without running out of money in the checking account and unrestricted savings.

                  iii.     Checking balance on the Asset & Liability Sheet and Change in Financial Position Sheet, showing as $164, is actually $6,164.  This was due to an error made by Wells Fargo, corrected on November 7^th.

                  iv.     Briefly reviewed assets and liabilities.

Report Approved

 b.     Worship – report foregone

 c.      Outreach – report foregone

 d.     Christian Educate – report foregone

 e.      Stewardship - Kim Kidney is the new Director of Stewardship.

 f.      Property – report foregone

 g.     Youth - Deb Grothman gave an update on current Trinity fundraisers and events.

 4.     Pastor’s Report

a.      Pastor thanked the congregation for a great year.

b.     TCN process is still in progress.  Some tasks are enjoying very good progress, such as the Listening and Visioning Team.  Other tasks have stalled a bit, one of which is the Bible Study Task Force.

c.      Through the Listening & Visioning Team as part of the TCN process we have opened a lot of relationships in the neighborhood.  Doors of opportunity are opening all around us.

Report Approved

 5.     Ladies in Mission

     a.      Party scheduled for December 12^th.

     b.     Sponsoring a “Mitten Tree” in the fellowship hall for Baird Elementary School.

 6.     Old Business – none

 7.     New Business

a.      Election of Representatives to the Circuit Forum on December 4^th

                      i.     Voted to send Pastor DeCoste as our primary representative, and either the Head Elder or Board Chairperson (based on availability) as a second representative. Passed

b.     Nomination of candidates for Circuit Counselor

                      i.     Voted to nominate Pastor Scott Malme for Circuit Counselor. Passed

c.      Election of Delegates to the District Convention in June

                      i.     Voted to send Pastor DeCoste as our primary delegate, and either the Head Elder or Board Chairperson (based on availability) as a second delegate. Passed

d.     Suggestions for Mission and Ministry Emphases for the next triennium to the Circuit Forum

                      i.     No suggestions were submitted.  Pastor explained the concept so that congregation members can submit suggestions in the future.

e.      Suggestions for other Overtures to Circuit Forum or Synod Convention

                      i.     No suggestions were submitted.  Pastor explained the concept so that congregation members can submit suggestions in the future.

f.      2012 Budget Presentation and Adoption

                      i.     Attachment: 2012 Proposed Budget

                    ii.     Rob Grothman gave an overview of the initial draft of the 2012 budget

                  iii.     Ron Stieglitz covered a few budget increases over 2011

1.     One increase is a monthly door offering, estimated at $100/month.  First three months in 2012 will be for Adopt a Seminarian, Freedom House, and Lutheran World Mission respectively.

                  iv.     Miscellaneous questions and discussion

                    v.     Motion to adopt 2012 budget as published

1.     Rob Grothman made a proposition to not adopt the budget without a contingent commitment to a plan to close the roughly $10,000 budget deficit.

2.     Discussion followed, regarding possible plans.

3.     Motion modified to approve the 2012 budget as published, with a charge to the Board of Directors to appoint a committee with the task of closing the deficit.

Motion Passed

 

   8.  Next Meeting Date and Time – TBD, expected to be in January

 **MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 29 at 9:00 a.m.

9. Adjourned and closed w/Prayer lead by Pastor DeCoste.