Council Corner - March 23 Meeting Update

Council Corner:

Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting - March 23, 2026

Informational Items:

Update on Financial Audit
As of the March council meeting, the initial phase was complete, and it was on track for a March 31 completion.
An update is expected at the Semi-Annual Meeting

Update from Physical Facilities Ministry
Work is in progress collecting bids for the replacement of various electrical panels.
Discussed the possibility of terminating HVAC yearly maintenance contract and assigning the duties to our maintenance manager, Lamour.
Updates on athletic field contracts and the possible work (overseeding, moles) needed to the fields.

Update from Personnel Ministry
Currently working to update job descrip2ons to reflect actual duties and responsibilities; first step is gathering information from staff.
Working on a better reporting system for vacation, PTO, and other time off. Goal is to have consistency in forms.

Miscellaneous Updates
Discussed the Ryan Burge UCC Analysis and St. Lucas’ standing relative to the denomination, highlighted in e-blast on 3/26. Requests were made for more demographic insights and to understand St. Lucas’ relative property footprint.
Debrief of Council Conversation and planning for semi-annual meeting

Actions Taken:

Approved the Bequest Idea Submission Form
Responses from the congregation are due May 3rd.
Approved Memorial Committee expenditures, which included funds for updates to the sanctuary flowers, mulch for the Victory Garden, and assis2ng AV with the purchase of new wireless microphones.

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Who Was Rev. Kruse?

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.