June 8, 2026
Council Corner - May 28 Meeting Update
Author
Denee Bowers
Council Corner:
Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting – May 28, 2026
Informational Items:
- Update from Physical Facilities Ministry
- Adding a second handrail to the exterior kitchen stairs is under consideration – the feasibility is in question as the space needed might not reach clearance requirements.
- Church and property HVAC systems will now be overseen and maintained by our Maintenance manager Lamour, creating savings by eliminating the need for a third-party contract.
- Miscellaneous Updates
- Shared a revised draft of Event Planning Checklist for feedback.
- Provided a Mayberry Bequest submission update with plans to release a summary to the congregation in the coming weeks.
- Presented a confirmation banquet and service planning review document to discuss how to better assist the Youth Leaders in hosting banquet and opportunities for cross ministry collaboration in setup and execution.
- Approved moving the August Council Conversation to August 16 th to prevent conflict with Sunday Funday.
- Looking Ahead - Items Upcoming in Next 1-2 Months
- Preparing for 2027 Budget cycle
- Form nominating committee for various committee/ministry positions.
- Form Celebration Sunday planning team.
- 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.
Actions Taken
- Approved applying for the America 250 – Good Neighbor Week mini-grant to support a Community Meal in the fall (week of September 28 – October 4).
- Approved hiring DECA to perform a light interior and exterior inspection of the Parsonage for $100.
- Approved updates to the Keeping God’s Children Safe policy.
- Closed Session Actions:
- Approved 6-month renewal of Pastor Janet’s contract

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
•
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.







