Dear Peacemakers,
At the end of worship the Peace Youth will collect the special Souper Bowl Offering which they have designated for Beth-el Farmworker Ministries. Help them reach goals of 200 items of non-perishable food and $400.
The Wired Word Class has invited representatives from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to share at 11:00 the successes and struggles to achieve fair pay (justice) for farmworkers. See your Lively Learning emails.
Sunday’s scripture tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Come and consider what it means to be flavorful and bright in today’s world.
You will have one last opportunity to contribute to the parting gratitude gift for our good friend and former guitarist, Joe Sardo. See Mickey Miller on Sunday.
Hope you were able to attend the Annual Meeting last Sunday. If not, pick up one of the booklets so you know what’s happening.
And here are some highlights from recent Session meetings and the Congregational Meeting:
New Members: Bob Stuckey, Janet & Rick Grogan and their son Trevor have joined the church.
New Elders: Shirley Blair (Admin) , Nancy Hughes (Congregational Care), Drew Jordan (Youth & Children), and Jim Padula (Adult Education) are now ordained, installed, and serving.
New Leaders and Openings: Peggy Donaldson is replacing Dana Scott in Fellowship with support from Bob Hughes and Elder Rod Scott; Stewardship has a new member in Tracy Jordan, who has also offered to help with church bulletins.
New Confirmation Classes: Pivotal Opportunity for 8th-9th graders to confirm the promises of their baptism by claiming their own faith in Christ. Held with First Presby, Sarasota, this spring.
New Dates: Movie Night on February 18th , Kickball & Hot dogs in the Park on February 20th, Sisters of Peace Dining on February 25, Fat Tuesday Brinner and Ash Wednesday Service second week of March. The Main Event of Presbytery on March 12th, Couples at Peace Enrichment to run again in mid-March, due to popular demand.
New Gifts to the Building Fund: $20,000 from our sister church, Moorings Presbyterian in Naples, and $50,000 from an anonymous donor in the congregation!
New Operating Budget: We approved a budget of nearly 260K (18K less than last year), bringing us to financial independence! Trimming down required some hard losses in Personnel and Mission, though we will manage by end of 2011 to give away about 13% of revenues when you count our special offerings.
Peace to you and to the Middle East, especially Egypt,
Elizabeth
