Good morning,
A number of updates to pass along to you this week:
Church Security
The elders had a lengthy discussion regarding church security last night, with a specific focus on keeping our kids safe on Sunday mornings. We will be exploring several different possible solutions that we hope will alleviate the concerns that some members of the church family have expressed but do not involve locking the exterior doors. We will be checking in with our insurance carrier and our fellow AMEC network churches for counsel as well. When we have a plan we will communicate it to the congregation before implementing it. One note to address a concern that some have expressed – all the exterior doors to the church have breaker bars. In the case of an emergency (fire or otherwise) folks can always get out of the church.
2025 Budget
We will have a brief congregational meeting after the worship service next Sunday (1/19) for the purpose of affirming the budget for 2025. Copies of the budget are available in the lobby. There is one additional note that should have been made on the budget that I’ll make here – we had a major expense in 2024 when we repaved the upper parking lot. That expense was paid using funds from the church’s undesignated funds that are kept in our account with the bank. We are blessed to have such funds available for major projects like the parking lot!
Since that project was a long-term capital improvement, it does not show up in the “Actual Spending” column for 2024 in the budget. I just wanted to make everyone aware of that. Again, if you have any questions or concerns please see myself or an elder.
500 Years of Anabaptism
500 years ago on January 21st the first Anabaptists were baptized in Switzerland. As churches with an Anabaptist heritage, AMEC churches have been invited to a 3-day celebration that is taking place at Petra Church, just south of New Holland. The event is taking place on January 20-22 and will have worship services each morning at 10 and other programming and prayer gatherings each afternoon and evening.
Different groups will be leading each of the sessions. Some of the groups will likely be a bit more conservative in culture and practice than ABCF, and some perhaps a bit more expressive. Invitations have been given to all the branches of Anabaptism – Mennonites, Amish, Brethren, even the Hutterites!
The event is free, although registration in advance is requested. If you would be interested in checking it out you can go to this website: https://allianceus.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2601722
Cornerstone Reproductive Health
On Sunday January 1/26 Jennie Straub, the Executive Director of Cornerstone, will join us to give a ministry update. We will also be launching a baby bottle campaign that morning to financially support the ministry. Provided the weather cooperates, we hope to have Cornerstone’s mobile unit at the church for people to tour after the service.
Focus on Marriage Retreat
The Focus on Marriage Retreat is returning this year. Dates are March 7-9. More details will be coming out very soon.
.
Here’s what (else) is happening:
1. Youth Group tonight at 6:30 in the schoolhouse. Youth Group meets again on 23rd this month.
2. We are still working on figuring out what happened with the offering envelopes. It appears that the envelope company delivered them to the wrong address. It is likely (possible, but not likely) that we will not have them at church this week again. For this week please place your offering in a regular envelope with your name on it.
3. Both adult Sunday School classes will be meeting as a combined class in the fellowship hall this week.
This Sunday Thomas Derr will be bringing the morning message, as my family is traveling to Langhorne to be a part of Greg’s installation as Associate Pastor at Core Creek Community Church. Thomas will be preaching on Daniel 1:8-21 and living by faith in a hostile culture.
Enjoy the weekend!
Scott