Financial Stewardship in a Time of Transition

Transcription

1 April 26, 2018 Financial Stewardship in a Time of Transition For the past couple of weeks we ve discussed using our time and our talents to do the numerous things required to make our organization at Fellowship a vibrant, Christ centered community. Now let s discuss the other part of our obligation to Fellowship and its members. The other part is our financial pledge. At one point, I thought that if I provided more time and effort in working at a church, my financial commitment could be less in order to compensate for my work. I outgrew that opinion long ago when I realized that the work I volunteered to do was very much needed, but didn t pay the utility bill, the pastor s salary, or for outreach programs and all the good things for which the church uses its money. Now I consider the financial commitment to be separate from the time and effort I spend on various tasks within the church, but equally important. So I personally ask myself two questions: What can I do? and What can I give?. Each question is independent of the other. Volunteers are absolutely needed to do the church s work, and usually it falls upon those with the talent, the time, and the physical ability to do specific tasks. So as much as everyone would like to participate in accomplishing specific jobs at church, there are always some limitations. However, EVERYONE can and should be involved in committing financially to the church. We are all aware of the biblical standard of tithing. I would guess that some are already tithing, and many are working their way toward a tithing pledge. So it doesn t matter how much or how little one s income is, we understand God s challenge to tithe. Our church, although a small congregation, has over the past several years given more to the Presbytery than many larger churches, has supported both local youth programs as well as assisted with a youth program in The Ukraine, supported UKIRK, Habitat for Humanity, and many other programs too numerous to mention. The session attempts to wisely allocate the church s money and use it not only to pay our bills, but to meet Christ s challenge to help those in need. Continuing to fund the required budget items (pastor, utility bills, etc.) as well as the outreach programs is what is at stake in the year budget. As our retiring pastor leaves and a new pastor is called to Fellowship, we need to work together as a team to ensure we continue the good that Fellowship provides its congregants, the community, and the world. We have also had some turnover in our church this year: but we must still find a way to meet our financial obligations. Doing this requires that each of us take a hard look this year at our pledges and, if possible, increase our giving. It would be great to bring a new pastor into a situation where the annual budget wasn t a concern, where all financial obligations were fully funded and a sufficient reserve was available to know that our church could handle any emergency that might arise. This is what we need to aim toward. However, it can only happen if we all provide the necessary financial support. This is something each of us should address in prayer. Frank McGoogan

2 We will be celebrating Stewardship Sunday on May 6th with a special worship service followed by a pot-luck luncheon. Please mark your calendars and join us for this fun and important day. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex. Please prayerfully consider the blessings we receive when we let the Holy Spirit lead us to fulfilling our call to be the church of Jesus Christ. Senior Friends We have an appointment to tour the Governor's Mansion at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1. I have called Food Glorious Food at 1950 Thomasville Road (Betton and Thomasville) and made a reservation for an early lunch at 11:00 a.m. If you went with us to The Grove, that is where we had lunch after the tour. If we meet at the church no later than 10:30 a.m., we should be able to car pool and get there on time to have lunch. A sign up sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall for this Sunday. I need an accurate count to call FGF on Monday. Bill

3 Dear Friends: Just a short note to let you know that due to all of your prayers, our daughter Ellen Ann passed her national boards for medical school. Our baby is on her way to being Dr. Sockman! She will be moving to Thomasville on June 1 to start her OB GYN rotation, and other specialties for the next 2 years. Love to all Roger & Rita Come one, come all. Shipwrecked VBS July 9-13 Registration begins next week both online and hard copy for participants and volunteers. "I'm just not creative." We hear folks say it all the time, but as individuals created in God's image it's not the truth! The Presbyterian Women of Faith invite you to join us for an hour-long interactive workshop that encourages us to engage with our faith through art. Trinity Whitley, Associate Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, will help those present to collaborate through reflective activity, to create worship art that will be displayed in Faith's sanctuary in the coming weeks. Everyone is invited. *April 29 th at 4:00 p.m. in the Faith Presbyterian Fellowship Hall *Free of cost and highly inspirational. *In order for us to have an adequate amount of supplies, RSVP to Elaine Youngblood at Elaine.youngblood@mediacombb.net or before April 26 th. You will enjoy this experience.

4 MAY 4/29 & 5/6 USHERS Tara Boyter Cliff Jordan WORSHIP LEADER 4/29 Roger Sockman 5/6 Jeannie Dixon 5/13 Dottie Lee 5/20 Anne Hall 5/27 Bill Donalson Gentle Hatha Yoga Class No Classes May 1st & 3rd Mon * Wed * Fri 10:00 am 4/30 * May 2nd * 4th Beginner s Pilates Class May 3rd at 4:00 April 29 The McGoogans May 6 Stewardship Sunday Potluck May 13????? May 20 PW Birthday Celebration May 27????? 4/29 COUNTERS Cochran Keating Susan Groff POWER POINT 4/29 Shannon Woods 5/6 Linda Davis 5/13 Jerry Smith 5/20 Heather Kidd 5/27 Lisa Hurst Fellowship Hour Hosts are needed!! May 2 James Vance 3 Cliff Jordan 13 Tom Harrison 17 Susan Crona 21 John Nesmith 26 June Warmath 30 Chuck Groff April 29 Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 22: John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 Lectionary Readings: May 14 Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17

5 Remember These in Prayer Church Family in Need of Prayer Pam Miller Anna Kuhn Bob & Rita Schumm Billy Dickson June Warmath YOUR PNC Lee Johnson Betty Shackelford Noemi Galeano Betty McCoy Nyomi and Family, Doug Fife, Raven, (The Burr Family) Agatha Kinney, Benny Moye & Family, Bill Cobb, Kelly (Cliff & Melanie Jordan) Several Family Members (Patty Domico) Eugene Majors, Autumn & Dehana (Kay Majors) Sgt William Dean (Doc Dean) Jeanne Cain, Bud Fakoury (Dick & Lorrie Pippel) Beverly McDavid, Nikki Hunter, Bob Robertson (Ora May Keys) Jakari Wilcoxsin, Jan Hewitt (Jan Everett) Ivey Dixon (Jeannie Dixon) Friends of Family in Need of Prayer Please let Sally know of any changes to our prayer lists If you have a prayer concern or celebration, or are interested in becoming a part of this rewarding ministry, please call the church office at or send an to fellowshipprayer@comcast.net Maureen, Ellen & Tommy, (Anne Hall) Bill Whichard, Keith Neal (Bill Donalson) Cecil Culpepper (Beth Keating) The Parents of Linda & Donna Charlie Schiff (Linda Lamb) Trish (Betty Sprouse McCoy) Jason Halstead Andy Welch and Family, Suzanne Garvin (Sally Smith) Clarence Payne Robert Gamble and This Child Here All Military & Their Families Domestic Violence Victims and Their Families THE SESSION Frank McGoogan, Nolan Raybon, Duane Woods Anne Hall, Cochran Keating, Donna Weisman Joshua Huff, John Hurst, Jessica Pitts Clerk: Jeannie Dixon DEACONS Joyce Blocker, Larry Everett, Jan Morphew, Shannon Woods, Michael Dean, Susan Groff Treasurer: Marcia Petford Fellowship Staff Financial Officer/Church Administrator.Sally Smith fellowshipchurch@comcast.net Dir. of Music Matt Jarvis matt.t.jarvis@gmail.com Organist/Pianist....Karey Fowler Treasurer....Marcia Petford Fellowship Presbyterian Church, USA 3158 Shamrock St. South Tallahassee FL Phone Church Website-

6 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 29 9:00-PB Prac Youth Group 6:00 pm 6 9:00-PB Prac Stewardship Sunday Potluck Youth Group 6:00 pm 13 9:00-PB Prac Youth Group 6:00 pm Mother s Day Social 20 9:00-PB Prac 30 10am-Zumba 1-5pm-TDBC 7 10am-Zumba St Andrews 6: am-Zumba 21 10am-Zumba 1 Senior Luncheon 10:30 NO Hatha Yoga 8 10am-Joy Circle am-Zumba 6:00 Bible Study 9 NO Zumba Newcomer Lunch 9-2 6:00 Bible Study 16 10am-Zumba 6:00Bible Study 23 10am-Zumba 3 10am- Stitchers NO Hatha Yoga 6:30-Cub Scouts 10 6:30-Cub Scouts 17 6:30-Cub Scouts 7:00pm-Fidelity Square am-Zumba 11 10am-Zumba 18 10am-Zumba 25 NO Zumba 10am-1pm-Blocker Graduation Party 5 10:00am-PWCT Cub Scout End of Year Party 12 10:00 am Harmony Circle 4-:11pm-Persian Group 19 9am-8pm- Scout End of Year 26 Youth Group 6:00 pm EPC-6:00 7:00pm-Session Mtg 6:00Bible Study 27 9:00-PB Prac 28 10am-Zumba Memorial Day am-Zumba 31 6:00Bible Study