ARENA CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
2008 ANNUAL MEETING
JANUARY 20, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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AGENDA

Order of Business

Call to order by Governing Board President, Steve Wilkinson

Opening Prayer by Pastor Shultz

Reading of the Minutes from the 2007 Annual Meeting by Clerk, Colleen Wahljohnson

Reports of the Church:

Clerk's Report - Colleen Wahljohnson Church

Financial Report - LaVerne Sneath

Pastor's Report - Pastor Shultz

Sunday School Report - Karen Wilkinson

Volunteer Missionary Society Report - Vivian Dodge

Presentation of 2008 Budget Old Business:

Handicap Access Committee Report

New Business:

Elections:

Governing Board members to replace Steve Wilkinson and Susan Favreau for 3 year terms.

Sunday School Supt. to replace Karen Wilkinson

Choir Director to replace Susan Favreau

Church Secretary to replace Steve Wilkinson

Head Usher

Delegates to WCA

Any other New Business

Adjournment and Closing Prayer

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Minutes of the 2006 Annual Meeting

Arena Congregational Church Annual Meeting - Jan.28, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 12:20 p.m. by Board President, Steve Wilkinson. This meeting was originally scheduled for Jan. 21, 2007 but was postponed one week due to a snowstorm.

Opening prayer by Pastor Shultz.

Minutes of the 2006 annual meeting were read by Colleen Wahljohnson.

Motion by Jim Favreau

Second by Marion Sanford to accept the report as presented. Motion carried.

FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS REPORTS

Clerk's Report - was read by Colleen Wahljohnson.

Motion by Marv Everson to approve the clerk's report as corrected to read:

Funeral services were held for Carrie Nelson, Beryl Anding, Steve Foye, Elmer Taylor and Marion Pfanku.

Second by Vivian Dodge. Motion carried.

Church Financial Report - was led by LaVerne Sneath. Expenses of the repairs to the sanctuary were noted. Correction of the lamp replacement cost to $396.00.

Motion to approve by Pastor Shultz.

Second by Colleen Wahljohnson. Motion carried.

Pastor's Report - Highlights given by Pastor Shultz with members reading the rest of the report.

Motion to approve by Jim Favreau.

Second by LaVerne Sneath. Motion carried.

Sunday School Report - was read by members. Discussion was held on the financial operations of the Sunday school and the need in a couple of years to have the Sunday school expenses added to the church budget. It was suggested that children designate Sunday school on their weekly offering envelopes. That money would then go to the Sunday school account.

Motion to approve by LaVerne Sneath.

Second by Vivian Dodge. Motion carried.

Volunteer Missionary Society Report was read by members.

Motion to approve by Karen Wilkinson.

Second by Norma Sneath. Motion carried.

The Volunteer-Missionary Society members along with their quilts were pictured in a 2005 Wisconsin Congregationalists magazine.

2007 Budget Report - was presented by LaVerne Sneath.

The budget is a stable and constant state at this time so no changes were made to the 2007 budget. Pastor will receive the same salary amount, but pointed out to members that he also receives mileage reimbursement and office/computer supplies reimbursement.

Motion to approve the budget as presented by Marie Pitt.

Second by Helga Shultz. Motion carried.

Old Business:

1. Handicap Access Committee Report

Marv Everson gave a report on the committee's progress to date with adding a lift elevator to the church to make the basement and sanctuary handicap accessible. The committee has been working with an engineer from Prairie du Sac. The committee will continue to work and look for solutions. The committee consists of Steve Wilkinson, LaVerne Sneath, Marv Everson, Helga Shultz, and Jim Favreau.

New Business:

1. Elected Positions:

Sunday School Superintendent - Karen Wilkinson

Jim Favreau nominated Karen Wilkinson and made a motion to close the nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Karen.

Second by Helga Shultz. Motion carried.

Choir Director - Susan Favreau

Karen Wilkinson nominated Susan Favreau and moved that the nominations be closed and a unanimous ballot be cast for Susan.

Second by Jim Favreau. Motion carried.

Church Secretary - Steve Wilkinson

Helen Everson nominated Steve Wilkinson and moved to close the nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for Steve.

Second by Jim Favreau. Motion carried.

Head Usher

Pastor Shultz nominated Jim Favreau to serve as head usher and moved to close the nominations and cast a unanimous ballot for them.

Second by Colleen Wahljohnson. Motion carried.

2. Sound system

Due to problems with the current sound system, Steve presented information that Lifeline Amplifications from Platteville did an assessment on the current sound system and found that the amplifier was damaged by not being properly matched to the speaker system and would have to be replaced. Their cost estimate was $7,000.00. Fearing Electronics from Portage has been contacted to give another estimate.

3. Annual WCA meeting

This year's meeting will be held in Mukwonago in April. Steve Wilkinson appointed Helga Shultz as a delegate after her name was suggested by LaVerne Sneath.

4. Church Cleaning

Jim Favreau will make a monthly cleaning list, for people to sign up on, and post it on the bulletin board in the foyer. A list of where to find supplies and what to clean will be added to the list.

Several members offered praises and thanks to those serving the church.

Motion by Colleen Wahljohnson to adjourn the meeting.

Second by Susan Favreau. Motion carried.

Closing prayer by Pastor Shultz.

Respectfully submitted,
Colleen Wahljohnson, Clerk

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Arena Congregational Church
Clerk's Annual Report for 2007

The Governing board of the Arena Congregational Church had 12 regular meetings, and 1 special meeting of the congregation.

Board and Officers for the year of 2007

Actions of the Governing Board:

-Handicap access committee met and brought back proposals to the board and congregation.

-Adopted new guidelines for weddings, funerals and use of the church.

-Baptism of Brady Charles Favreau on Jan. 14,2007.

-Scheduled Ash Wed. service, a Maundy Thursday service including a chili dump.

-Sponsored a Good Friday service

-Participated in an Easter Sunrise service at St. Barnabas Church in Mazomanie

-Held a Holy Humor Service during the worship hour.

-Sent Helga Shultz as delegates to the annual WCA meeting.

-Monetary donation in the amount of $125.00 to WCA and $35.00 to WC Ministries

- Provided a monetary donation to the Community Easter Egg Hunt.

-Participated in the third annual Arena Historical Program at Tower Hill State Park. The church worship service was held there as a re-enactment of an old time church service.

-Scheduled church picnics for July at Brigham Park and Sept. at the Village Park.

-Contracted Fearing's Electronics to install! update the sound system in the church.

-Minor changes made to some wording in the constitution.

-Purchased and installed new lights for the kitchen.

-Sponsored a Harvest Potluck dinner for the congregation.

-Collected 20 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

-Participated in an ecumenical Thanksgiving service at United Church of Christ in Mazo.

-Scheduled Christmas Eve. services.

-Deaths in the church this year were: Emma Abplanalp - April 26, Harriet Walter - May 22 and Marie Baker - June 8. Services for Emma and Marie were held at the church.

-Hanging of the greens.

-Provided Christmas gifts to Pastor and Helga Shultz, and Marie Bryant.

-Set the annual meeting date for January 20. 2008.

Respectfully submitted, Colleen Wahljohnson, Clerk

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2007 Treasurer's Report

CD's/Golden Passbooks

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Pastor's Report

In 2007 I officiated at 3 funerals, two member, one non-member, 1 baptism, Brady Charles Favreau, and 2 weddings, both non-member.

I preached approximately 52 sermons for Sunday Worship, Lent, and Christmas. Because of inclement weather, we did not have worship on January 21 and December 23. Numerous calls were made to hospitals, nursing homes, and in homes of members, friends, and those in need.

Worship is conducted at 9:00 am on the first Thursday of the month at Greenway Manor, Spring Green

A weekly Bible Study is being offered at 6:30 pm at the Church from April through December, and at the home of Steve and Karen Wilkinson from January through March. One of the extraordinary features of this Bible study group is that we take turns teaching the subject for the week. We are blessed with excellent teachers. Many thanks for the Wilkinson's generous hospitality.

A new adult Sunday School class has been started with good results. A Communion Class for children 2nd grade and above was offered with excellent participation.

I continue to serve as chairperson of the Spring Green Zoning Appeals Board, as a member of the Spring Green Cemetery Association Board and am a member of the Arena Historians, conducting worship at Heritage Days at Tower Hill State Park.

I continue to act as the Secretary-Treasurer for the Wisconsin Congregational Ministers Association. I also serve on a committee to integrate the Wisconsin Congregational Ministers Association with the Wisconsin Congregational Association.

All in all, it has been an exciting and productive year. I am proud to serve as your pastor. I am very grateful for your love, cooperation, support and encouragement. Together, and with the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish great things for Christ.

Respectfully submitted.

Leslie R. Shultz II, Pastor

Emma Abplanalp, May 2, 2007
Harriet Walter, May 22, 2007
Marie Baker, June 8, 2007

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Sunday School Annual Report for 2007

Sunday school classes for the children were held each Sunday following Children's Time in the worship service through July. Beginning after Labor Day the time of Sunday School was changed to 9: 15 a.m. to allow the older students to attend the worship service and to add an adult class being taught by Pastor Shultz. Teachers are Jim Favreau teaching Pre-School, Karen Wilkinson, teaching early elem., Steve Wilkinson, teaching the older class, and Pastor Shultz teaching the adults. Substitutes are Joanne Brown, Colleen Wahljohnson, Ray Johnson and Kelly Christensen. David C. Cook, Bible in Life Series is the Sunday school curriculum being used. Bailey Brown received a bible as she entered into 2nd grade this year.

Preschool through first grade children participate in Children's church following children's time during the worship service. The following volunteers teach them on a rotating basis: Joanne Brown, Kelly Christensen, Jim Favreau, Karen and Steve Wilkinson, and Ray Johnson.

The children provide special music every other week during the worship service. Due to snowy weather a Christmas play was presented on the Sunday of Epiphany.

We see their joy and enthusiasm for learning God's word and hear the praise in their voices as they make a joyful noise until the Lord. Pray for us as we minister to these boys and girls weekly.

Karen Wilkinson
Sunday School Superintendent

Sunday School Fund Annual Report 2007

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Volunteer Missionary Society Annual Report - 2007

The Volunteer-Missionary Society did not meet during the year of 2007 due to illnesses, hospitalizations, weather and the lack of members in attendance, because of deaths of faithful members. We have decided to dissolve the Volunteer Missionary Society for lack of participation. Funds of the group ($200.00) will be turned over to the church general account for the purchase of the Daily Bread devotional books. The funds will cover the purchase for two years giving them a one hundred dollar donation each year.

Submitted by, Vivian Dodge, Sec.

Volunteer Missionary Society Financial Report - 2007

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Proposed Budget for 2008

General Fund Other Expenditures for 2007

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