UNITED CHURCH NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2014

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1 UNITED CHURCH NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2014 A community of faith providing nurture, strength, & direction for living today in God s world. Regular Giving, (Pledges, Tithes, Offerings), Extra Giving, Directed Giving and THE FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP OF ALL OF GOD S TREASURE As people of faith, we are called by our God to share generously from the treasure which comes to us from God s hand, returning a portion of it for God s work in the world. Regular giving consists of those offerings we dedicate weekly, a percentage of what we have received. Most of us choose to pledge, so that the Board can predict income and plan accordingly for our ministry without deficit spending. This regular giving by everyone to the operating budget is essential for the functioning of the church, supporting its ministry through the services we provide to the community, its pastoral care and the leadership desired of the staff. Effective ministry is by its very nature labor intensive a ministry of presence requires the presence of a people. Further, we need to tend to the safe and respectful upkeep, cleaning and maintenance of our historic building a building which hosts concerts, weddings, funerals and other communal occasions as well as our weekly worship. No one enjoys paying the heat bill, here or at home, but when the heat isn t working, it s one of the first things we notice. Keeping and maintaining such a building is a CHOICE which we at UCF have made and we are responsible for its necessary care. Such ends are rarely glamorous, but are critical for the life of the congregation. Extra Giving is that which is offered above and beyond our regular offerings and does not detract from those offerings. Some folks find themselves moved to make an extra gift of joy to celebrate the birth of a child or grandchild, a new job, to honor someone or to give thanks for healing or reconciliation. One couple sends a gift almost every year in thanksgiving for the staff s ministry and the congregation s hosting of their wedding. Directed Giving is extra giving made for a particular purpose. While it need not be, almost all of our extra giving is directed. One way this happens is when we are invited by the Board to make offerings for special purposes (i.e.) Christmas, Easter, Haiti, the Food Pantry, Memorials or in response to natural disasters. Other Directed Giving is when someone responds to God s grace by spontaneously making a gift to the congregation, not in response to a special request. This year, UCF is benefitting from two such gifts by individuals who choose to remain anonymous. (Note: These gifts were not made in lieu of their regular giving.) They approached the Pastor, saying they had blessing bestowed on them and (continued)

2 wished it to serve God s work in the church. Consulting with pod coordinators and committee chairs, the Pastor was able to identify two projects that were consistent with the interests and desires of the donors and were needed by the church. One project was the major upgrade of the phone system, and the internet readiness of the building. The other one we will see this summer, as our front walks and entrance ways are upgraded and made safer, removing broken and dangerous pavers and creating a more durable and attractive entrance and walkway. It should also be noted that while these particular donors were in a position to fund rather large projects, gifts of any size are welcome, appreciated and will be put to faithful good use. There is always need for a piece of equipment, small assistance with tuition or short- term needs of households within or outside the congregation, advertising, materials or honorariums for special programs designed to let our neighbors know of the ministry we do here and invite them to participate. Faithful Stewardship of All God s Treasure The donors choice to consult in advance with the Pastor, and through her, the Board, helped to make sure that their God- powered offerings were not simply money spent, but gifts given and received that were actually needed. Part of the role of the Board is to help people be good stewards and not have even the best- intentioned people purchase something the church doesn t need or can t use. That is a key element in good stewardship. The Board is in the best position to know the overall needs of the church and their relative priorities to benefit the life of the congregation a bird s eye view that is often unavailable to those with passion and involvement in a particular area of ministry. Had these gifts not been given, upgrades and repairs would have happened, albeit in more piecemeal fashion, as the Board and fiscal oversight folk were able to make prudent withdrawals from existing funds and eke dollars from our admirably lean budget. While we do have a number of funds, for whatever reason, and unusual for a congregation of UCF s age, an endowment fund was never opened. One result of that earlier decision, is that our existing funds are spent as needed, but are also used to produce investment income which supports our operating budget. Therefore we are careful not to spend the funds just because they are there, but in such ways as to sustain and enhance our ministry. Throughout the year, we are all invited to reflect daily in God s blessing in our lives and make one of the ways we express our joy and thanksgiving the sharing of our concrete treasure. In faith, Linda P.S. Summer reminder: If you find yourself traveling throughout the summer and have not already done so, making arrangements for your regular giving to be automatic smooth s the church s income flow and makes summer finances easier to manage.

3 Music Ministry Notes THANK YOU choir for the birthday cake and party that you gave me on June 4. I appreciated the fellowship and Wegman s gift card. You re all the best. Also thanks to those who came to Isaiah s Table on Pentecost weekend. Your voices raised in song helped all to feel the Spirit of the Lord!! Here are some pics of that event. Intergenerational Bells Trip to Maryland and Washington, D.C. July 3-6 is coming soon! We ll be leaving UCF on Thursday morning, July 3, at 10 a.m. from the church parking lot. Please remember that if you have not provided Hugh with your signed permission form, please do so. Here is the list of participants: James, Thomas, and Sandy M.; Sarah, Edie and Maggie O.; Jenna, Sue, and Bob B.; Matt, Drew, and Bob C., Barb M., Soon P., David B., Michael P., Sarah and Susie S., Hugh Jones. Summer Worship Music at UCF It s not too late! If you sing, play an instrument or have another talent to raise to the Lord, we welcome your leadership in summertime worship. Contact Hugh for more information and practice times. Here is a synopsis of UCF s scheduled summer music for July and August 2014: July 6: Marg L. July13: Susie S., Jim / Sarah S. July 20: John P. July 27: Light of the World Ballet August 3: James M. August 10: UCF Women s Chorus August 17: Fields Family August 24: Betsy N. August 31: Bill B. Hugh Jones Director of Music Ministries

4 Young Christian Ministries As this year winds down, we would like to thank all parents, educators, mentors, volunteers, and pastors for being such a wonderful influence and blessing in the lives of our youth and children. We are preparing to say hard goodbyes to not just our seniors: Jenna, Ping, Anna and Rachel, but also to Matt and Maggie and Edie! Next year will not be the same without you! Kristi and I have plans to have a pool party and an outing this summer, so the rest of you... don t go too far. Chelsea Jenkins, Director of Young Christian Ministries The Ordination and Installation of Officers The congregation elected these people to serve as deacon elders at the January meeting. They were ordained and installed on June 1, For Ordination: Trudy B.: three year (renewable) term. Trudy is Coordinator for the Worship and Spiritual Life Pod. John H.: three year (renewable) term. John is Coordinator for the Building and Grounds Pod. Thomas M.: youth elder, one year term (renewable) For Installation: Hannah K.: youth elder, one year (second term, non- renewable) Janet P.: three year (renewable) term. Janet has served previously on the Board, and is Coordinator of the Administration and Personnel Pod. Cindy B.: one year (renewable) term. Cindy was elected by the Board at the May 13 meeting to serve as Moderator. For the Congregation s Information: Greg indicated to the Board he would be unable to serve as Immediate Past Moderator. Because the IPM is, according to the by- laws, the President of the Corporation of the Church, the position of necessity must be filled. The Board elected Beth K. to serve as Immediate Past Moderator and President of the Corporation. While the person in this position has voice, but no vote, and moderates in the Moderator s absence, he or she is not a Board member and therefore is not installed. Coming to the Adult Forum in September Adult Forum will resume on the Sunday following Labor Day, September 7, We will start the year with a series focused on interfaith dialogue in anticipation of Rick Ufford- Chase s visit to UCF the first weekend in October. Karen Amstrong s book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, will be one of our guides for this series. You can read more about the book and Armstrong s project, the Charter for Compassion, at this link: steps- book You can read more about Rick Ufford- Chase and the intentional interfaith community at Stony Point Retreat Center, for which he and his spouse, Kitty, are the directors, at this link: Feel free to make suggestions and share ideas with us over the summer months! Stephanie and Adam, Co- Chairs

5 News from Haiti UCF continues to support our Cayuga- Syracuse HEMP (Haiti Educational Mission Partnership), extending our outreach to schools in Paulette, Haiti, and, the new Presbyterian Primary School in Terrier Rouge set to open in the fall of This June our Cayuga- Syracuse Presbytery provided funds for health care booklets and a three- day mobile medical clinic in Paulette, Haiti, to treat 300 students who have never had health care and who have serious illnesses like intestinal worms and internal bacterial infections. Booklets will instruct parents and students on the proper way to prevent diseases. (See photo below with thank you to Cayuga- Syracuse Presbytery on the back wall!) A sample of Créole instructions & drawings for students and parents in schools in Paulette, Haiti, supported by our Cayuga- Syracuse Presbytery. Recently Presbytery funds also supported a potable water system with spigots, chlorine drops, small buckets and cups for students in 16 classrooms in Paulette, Haiti. The trip to Haiti scheduled in February has been postponed to the fall. Recently there has been an outbreak of the mosquito- borne chikungunya virus which has affected several of the missionaries as well. Please pray for our Haitian friends and our partnership! Gloria and Scott Class for parents.see Thank you to Cayuga- Syracuse Presbytery on back wall!

6 Summer Fellowship During the summer months, weather permitting, we serve fellowship in the lovely Memorial Garden after the worship service. Hosts are needed to serve cold drinks no coffee makers involved! Instructions are in the binder by the microwave in the kitchen, ask any Fellowship Committee member (Penny, Alice & Carl, Barb, Marge, Marti & Chris, Mary Jane) or Martha. Sign up on the board in Fellowship Hall. THANK YOU Dear UCF Friends, Thank you to all of you who made our Remembrance of Lisa so special and to all who have extended love and hugs to us and her family. Alice H. reminded us of a German saying, Joy shared is doubled, sorry shared is halved. It is so true, especially with the love and support from this congregation. You have lightened our sadness from losing our daughter to cancer and helped us to focus on the beauty in her life. We are forever grateful. - - Carl and Alice

7 Also special thanks to the men pictured here wo accompanied me to New Hartford Presbyterian for the fall Welsh Hymn Sing (Gymanfa Ganu) Als United Church of Fayetteville 310 East Genesee Street Fayetteville, NY Phone: Web: United Church Staff: Rev. Dr. Linda D. Even, Pastor Hugh Jones, Director of Music Ministries Chelsea Jenkins, Director of Young Christian Ministries Sue Boland, Administrative Assistant Cindy Burke, Board Moderator Scott Manuel, Treasurer Bob Craft, Asst. Treasurer