Faith s reason for being is to know Christ and to make Christ known The Mustard Seed Newsletter October 2018 Faith Episcopal Church 20295 Little Valley Road P. O. Box 1362 Poulsbo, WA 98370 (360) 471-7522 Vicar: The Rev. Laura Murray email: Info@FaithPoulsbo.org FaithPoulsboVicar@gmail.com web site: http://faithpoulsbo.org/
-2- Voice Of The Vicar Fall is my favorite season, bar none. It is especially easy to love autumn in the Pacific Northwest when each morning the sun s rays slant a bit more through the trees; by 7:30 in the evening, we re back into full-on twilight, the rains have not yet begun, and we are often blessed by the beautiful weather we are currently enjoying. It is also a time when, lulled by the beauty of it all, visitors to our neck of the woods start to hatch ideas about moving here and enjoying this climate year-round. If you are reading this from a distance, somewhere where you ve just come off the hottest summer in recent history, or the wettest, or wildest, know this: in a matter of weeks we will enter the deep, wet, dark season of late autumn to late spring. But now, while sunlight is still sparkling off the sound and the days are pleasantly warm, we rejoice in our good fortune to live in this startlingly beautiful corner of God s creation. As if this in itself wasn t enough, we have been prodigiously blessed by our own Diocese of Olympia. When our fire alarm system failed its annual inspection in July, the diocese came through by footing the bill for the necessary revamping of the system. This generosity will enable us to address improvements and ongoing maintenance of our facility without trying to figure out where to skimp. As we gear up to begin our annual fund drive, this gracious gift from the diocese means we can spend our finances on other important aspects of our life together like outreach, and evangelism, and formation. We have very, very much to be thankful for; our ministry groups are up and running, our bible study group has grown, new faces are regularly appearing on Sunday mornings, and we are becoming known in the community. I was standing in the parking lot today speaking with a parishioner when a lady pulled up in a car and asked if this was a church. I assured her it was, introduced myself, told her what time Sunday service was, and she said she d plan on coming. The love of God continues to sustain us in this place, reach through us to the world, and inspire others to come and see. Faithfully yours, Vicar Laura
The Junior Warden Report -3- We have been rescued by the Diocese! The Diocese (Office of the Bishop) is providing funds to update our fire alarm system which the Fire Department required. This came as a big surprise, since this update was postponed for several years. However, facing a $19000 plus cost, we presented this to Bishop Rickel and Dennis Tierney. To prevent shut down of our church, they responded with paying not just a portion of the cost, but the entire amount of the bill. God works in mysterious ways and prayers are answered in ways we cannot begin to imagine. We thank the Diocesan Board and Bishop Rickel for their on-going support of Faith! Other work that I have addressed was trimming blackberries and other brush that was encroaching over the fence onto the roof. Twenty red chairs were made sound by Frank Toth and myself last week. These will provide seating for Voices of Alanon, who are now using a room upstairs in the parish hall. Future plans to expand our seating will be to cannibalize 20 chairs, thus providing 40 sound chairs. Anyone interested in working on chairs should contact Fred at 253-549-5089. Fred Pomeranz Treasurer's Report August's plate income was $3568 as compared to July, which was $4800. We also received rent and a reimbursement from the Diocese for the building inspection, so our total income was $5070 as compared to July's $5750. Expenses were $4653. In September so far, after four Sundays, plate offerings total $1848. The budget for offerings on a monthly basis is $4166. So, this is less than half of what we hoped to realize. We have one Sunday left in the month, and it is my prayer that those who might have forgotten their pledge or are waiting until this last Sunday take this moment of time to submit their pledge amount that it might be reflected for this month s total offerings. Your support is as always deeply appreciated by all of us at Faith. Louise Kernaghan
-4- Faith Fall Market Faith is going to have their first annual fall market, on November 3rd from 10-4 pm and hopefully make lots of money for the ministries of Faith. We have a great committee with wonderful ideas and are very excited to get this off the ground. Spaces have been counted out and there is room for 22 tables, weather permitting, outside space can be used also. We will be serving different kinds of chili, corn muffins, and fritos. We plan to have baked goods for sale, too. If you would like to donate chili or baked goods, we will have sign up sheets available soon. Leslie Sandberg is coordinating the food piece for the Fall Market. Faith is going to have a couple of tables, so if anyone has items that you would like to donate please start your list of want-to-give-away. If you would like to have a table of your own let one of us know so a space can be saved. Spaces are $25 deposit to secure your space or 10% of your profit, which ever is greater. Each space is 8 x 8 feet. So start digging through your closets and cubby holes and find some awesome stuff to sell and make us lots of money. The go-getters on this committee are Deb Hurd, Leslie Sandberg, Jean Pomeranz, Brenda Toth, Doreen Valverde, Diane Foster and our Vicar, Laura Murray. If you have any questions or wish to help this committee with your time and talent, please contact any one of us, and we will happily answer your questions. Come and help us make this a success! Diane Foster Prayer Corner Requests Carol Moser for healing, elimination of pain due to issues regarding her spleen. Mary Perry continued healing and improvement of her health. Glen Robbins healing and stabilization and positive results of his treatment for pancreatic cancer. For all caregivers and care providers for grateful thanks as they give of themselves to others in true servanthood. Provide them with the emotional and physical strength for them to perform the duties that are required of them. Stacy healing from her diagnosed cancer positive results from her on-going treatment. Sharon for improving health and proper treatment options provided. Margaret Hooley continued healing and improving health following her surgery. Paulette Waggoner continued healing and good results with her physical therapy following her fall. Baby Raleigh - for complete healing following a high temperature and hospitalization. Continued support and comfort her the entire Kennedy family. Susie for needed healing following the removal of another spot on her brain. Support for her partner, Anne.
(Prayer Corner continued) -5- Matthew Drummond for healing and positive treatment results while being hospitalized for cystic fibrosis complications. Comfort and support for his parents, Scott and Laura. Sally Bloechl for stabilization of her health following a number of falls at home. Comfort and support for both Sally and her daughter, Linda. Warren for healing following a very significant spike in blood pressure. Clear diagnosis and positive treatment plan needed. Isla June For her impending birth. May it be a safe and joyous welcome into the world awaiting her arrival. Support and comfort for her mom and dad and for her grandparents in waiting, Ellen and Bob Green. Jim Aurand safe travel to Alabama and back home. Thanksgivings For the Diocese willingness to pay for the upgrades of the fire alarm system at Faith. For those families recently joining Faith. For the beauty of this early fall. For the announcement by Sara and Scott Hewson that their family will be increasing by a new member in the new year. For all the gifts given to us to share with the world. Passings Fred Hart A Thought Shared Autumn is a time of harvest Reflection Release Rest Anticipation. May you be blessed with comfort. May you be blessed with love. May you be blessed with peace. May you be blessed with warmth. May you be blessed with love. May you be blessed with the stillness of this season! Anonymous
-6- Words From The Editor We have entered the season of thanksgivings. We in the church consider this month of October, the stewardship season month. During the month, we will have an opportunity to put down in ink on an annual stewardship pledge card what we commit to offer in the form of our tithe in categories of treasure, time and talent. In the Aurand household, our tithe is offered after discussion prayerfully and thoughtfully before we submit it. As God has given us everything we need, we are merely offering back to God from our heart a percentage of that bounty. May I suggest that as you determine what you and your family can give in the form of your tithe, that you take a little time to verbally give thanks and then mention some of the many ways in which you have been the receiver of God s love and amazing grace. I do believe you will be overwhelmed by the level of His steadfast goodness and care. No matter the amount of time, talent and treasure you decide to give, it should always be given from the heart. It is all blessed! Our church s health is determined by our acts of support in the form of our treasure. The church has obligations too, to pay our bills in a timely manner. We pay the vicar s salary and benefits, the diocesan assessment of course, power bills, water and costs for repairs and maintenance, so that our facilities are taken care of to the best of our abilities. And we continue to pray for sufficient funds to initiate, grow and support ministries in our community and in the world. We have responsibilities as good stewards. All that we have is part of God s kingdom on earth, and it has been freely given to us as the designated caretakers of this little part of his creation. It becomes our call to servanthood. As we offer these varied tithes, the richness of our church family s bounty surfaces, and we call upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit s presence to help guide us and be present to us in determining the use of these collected offerings. All of it is ultimately offered back to our original loving giver God. Please be as generous as you can and welcome the opportunity and invitation to give of yourself maybe in a new way as you prepare your pledge card. As you fulfill this commitment, you are mirroring the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ in your thoughtful giving of yourself. May we at Faith be blessed in new ways of growing in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ with open hearts, open arms and always open minds. Amen! Blessings and peace dear ones, Connie Aurand Deadline for submissions for inclusion to newsletter is the 25 th of the month. Location of newsletter and monthly sign-up sheet on website: 1. The Mustard Seed: https://faithpoulsbo.org/about-us/newsletters.html 2. Monthly Sign-up Sheet: https://faithpoulsbo.org/worship/commitment-signup.html