June 25, 2026

Council Corner - June 22 Meeting Update

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Denee Bowers

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Council Corner:

Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting – June 22, 2026


Informational Items:

  • Update from Finance Ministry
  • All committees and ministries with budget lines will receive their annual Budget Letter and Request form this week. They are due by July 31st .
  • The offerings are down significantly prompting Financial Secretary Ken Fey to further examine, with congregational input, the reasons – more information to follow.


  • Update from Physical Facilities Ministry
  • Mudjacking work previously performed on the Preschool entrance sidewalks did not fully resolve the problem and will be addressed by the contractor.
  • Work on the breaker boxes is proceeding but with some delays due to parts – the contractor is working with church and preschool schedules.
  • Fall athletic field contract renewing and negotiating is in progress.
  • Lamour to replace heating element in kitchen dishwasher once parts are available; Council requested a better understanding of cost savings on external contractors thanks to Lamour.


  • Miscellaneous Updates
  • Community Meal Grant submitted with notification expected by July 31 st ; we are now an established vendor with the State, should future grant opportunities arise.
  • Kicked-off planning for September 13 th Celebration Sunday; anyone interested in assisting or volunteering, please contact Councilmember Melinda Borman.


  • Looking Ahead – Items Upcoming in Next 1-2 Months
  • Preparing for 2027 Budget cycle
  • Form nominating committee for various committee/ministry positions.
  • Prepare for possible renewal of Sexton’s house lease.
  • Employee Manual update.
  • Personnel working on formalizing a process for annual goal setting & performance reviews for employees.
  • Discussion on possible donor recognition area.
  • Upcoming Events – In an effort to better prepare for the various events and events within events, Council members use a more detailed calendar. We hope this tool also helps you better plan for Church activities.


  • Looking Ahead – Possible Items for Council Conversation – August 16th
  • Mayberry Bequest response discussion
  • Church financial update
  • Opportunities for St. Lucas



By Denee Bowers September 8, 2026
Thursday, September 10 | 5:30 to 8:00 pm | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers September 7, 2026
Sunday, September 13 | 11:00 AM | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers September 6, 2026
September 13, 27, October 11 | 6:00 PM | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers September 4, 2026
Council Corner: Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting – August 24, 2026 Informational Items: Update from Financial Ministry Meals on Wheels opted not to renew their annual grant funding for our Backpack program. We are currently seeking alternative funding – we appreciate the continued support of the Sugarbaker Foundation, which helps supplement this mission. The 2026-2027 Backpack Program is still being planned, but it could look different than previous years. Update from Physical Facilities Ministry The new breaker boxes passed the county inspection and we’re still in the process of labeling each breaker. Social Hall air conditioning is still leaking – will continue refilling the freon until the new coil can be install (see Actions Taken). Miscellaneous Updates Following discussion regarding the next step in the Bequest process, Council will develop a perspective to bring to the congregation by the Annual Meeting. It was not voted on but it was the consensus - that we would be prioritizing and developing a vision. Personnel Ministry is continuing their work on updating staff job descriptions and preparing for goal-setting, while finalizing budget recommendations for the Finance Ministry. The Cemetery is surveying the remaining open ground on the eastern area of the Park Hills section, allowing for more two grave and single plots. Looking Ahead – Items Upcoming in Next 1-2 Months Approval of 2027 Budget Approval of delegates for the Conference Meeting in November ( we have two of the three needed for the Conference meeting; still need four delegates for the Association meeting – please reach out if you’re interested in serving ). Performance Reviews and Goal Setting Employee Manual Updates (2019 version) Approval of revised Disaster Preparedness Proposal Upcoming Events – In an effort to better prepare for the various events and events within events, Council members use a more detailed calendar . We hope this tool also helps you better plan for Church activities. Celebration Sunday is September 13 th – this special St. Lucas tradition is open to everyone and follows the conclusion of service; it also falls on Grandparents Days, another reason to celebrate together. Community Meal is October 4 th – this one-time event commemorates Good Neighbor Week and is sponsored by a grant from ServMO and America250. More info to come. Actions Taken: Approved a bid from IFS for $16,986 to repair and replay the fellowship hall chiller coil and install hail guards. While we wait for parts, installation may not happen for 6 weeks. Approved appointments to the nominating committee (Kirk Dalgaard, Jack Laudenslager, and Linda Taylor). One council term is ending in 2026.
By Denee Bowers September 4, 2026
Social Justice Ministry - August Spotlight
By Denee Bowers September 2, 2026
Saturday, October 3 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers September 2, 2026
Sunday, October 4 | 4:30 PM | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers September 1, 2026
Saturday, October 11 | 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM | 11735 Denny Rd., St. Louis, MO 63126
By Denee Bowers August 27, 2026
He was our longest-serving pastor (43 years!). He started serving St. Lucas at the beginning of its second year and really got things rolling. Samuel A. Kruse (1858 - 1944) was born in Nashville, IL, to immigrants from areas now known as Germany. His father was a German Evangelical pastor who had studied at the educational institution in Marthasville that is now known as Eden Seminary in Webster Groves. After Samuel Kruse’s primary education at a school around Des Peres, MO, he attended Elmhurst College and then followed in his father’s footsteps and studied at Eden Seminary for four years. After his ordination in 1880, he was assigned to pastor a frontier community in southeastern Nebraska. During those two years, he made a trip home to marry Amalia Mueller, the daughter of Rev. Andreas Mueller, the pastor of Carondelet Church in South St. Louis. Rev. Kruse was happy to accept the call to St. Lucas in 1882, and the young couple returned to an area closer to their families.
By Denee Bowers August 6, 2026
Thursday, August 27 | 6:00 PM | Sanctuary